I promised the good things that came out of Ali Brown's SHINE event - and here they are (if you missed yesterday's post, that's where I put the yucky stuff).
For as much as I was disappointed about Ali's content and delivery of the event, there were a TON of great things to take away from Shine. The first was the environment itself. Imagine a room of 450 entrepreneurs that are all on a journey of discovery and upleveling together. That's what Napoleon Hill talked about when he was discussing Masterminds. And his group was a cross section unlike any other. CEO's and start-ups, men, women, billionaires and people who spent their very last dollar to be at the event. Truly an amazing blend of people.
I pretty much had my values locked down before the event. So while I only took away a small a-ha from the values exercise, SO many people continued to talk about it well into Day three. I discovered that I value experiences, and that I need them - and that's something I didn't know about myself that will definitely change the way I approach business in 2010.
A ton of great new connections were forged. People that were silent followers were reaching out to say hi - and even thanks - to the ones they've been following. And those people were gracious, considerate, and even helpful at times. It was good to know that there were so many good folks at such a large event.
I left my laptop in the ballroom repeatedly and my bag was never touched. The integrity, compassion and genuine helpfulness of the attendees was tremendous. The bulk of the group were women, and all of them were genuinely appreciative of one another, willing to help each other, support each other, and cheer for each other. Often, when one person would voice a concern or an ah-ha, that person would be approached at a later time by a throng of attendees seeking to assist.
The speakers all shared some great sound bites. Julie Clark, an accidental millionaire, has worked hard to help children have better lives. She's overcome a few obstacles to do it. That story was well recieved. Barbara Corcoran was an absolute RIOT, being completely honest, blunt, and entertaining at the same time. The lessons from her Mother were priceless.
But the star of the show was far and away Marlee Matlin. Honest, direct, and uber positive, she shared her triumphs so candidly, interacted with participants and even spoke a few words. She shared the realities of being a wife, mom and business owner - the joys and struggles. That was something we could all relate to. I felt she was the most "like us" of the bunch of speakers.
Anne McKevitt was very approachable throughout the event. Answering most questions, and creating quite a stir in the back of the room between breaks. I stood off to the side a few times listening to her share stories, offer advice, and try to be a genuine help to the women in the room. I look forward to getting her slides from the presentation.
Ali provided some good overview material. The only piece of "deep thinking" was on day three, with Dr. Jill's TED video. That was a smart move on Ali's part. Call in a female brain expert to explain the abilities of the left and right brain. I've seen this video numerous times, and it never fails to impress.
The hot seats were fun and entertaining. You could see the wheels turning for these entrepreneurs - and they also made a ton of new connections after sitting in the "Ali Halo" for a few minutes. There was lotsof learning going on in the room.
I met a faerie godmother. For as open a person as I am, she was able to connect the dots on some issues I've NEVER publicly shared before. It was an eye opening experience for me. It answered so many questions, and raised a few more I'll be exploring in 2010.
My swipe file is FILLED with ideas from Ali's event. I learned a TON about how to effectively run a live event (and what not to do). I took more notes on that than anything else. Ali puts on quite a show, and anyone paying attention could see how much behind the scenes work was going on right in front of our eyes.
I also learned a TON about upselling a big ticket coaching product. Ali had dozens and dozens of women making a beeline to the front of the stage as the scantily clad Vegas showgirls brought the MPC applications to the front of the room. Ali used her clients as examples for each of the business blueprint "models" she offered, allowing her the opportunity to not only showcase her handiwork, but to get live testimonials from her clients.
The bulk of day two served to set up the pitch for her program at the end of the evening. Presenting James Roche to deliver content focused on helping people see the logical steps in building a business set him up as a content expert. Then drawing the connection that he'll also be teaching not one but two tracks for this year's MPC program got the crowd even more excited.
Ali sealed the deal for many with her promised live event mid 2010 all about setting up and running a multi-tier coaching/mastermind program, and free VIP access tonext year's Shine event for those that opted to join at either the platinum or diamond level.
This was a HUGE opportunity to observe the upsell, as well as cleve ways to pre-fill the seats for a live event.
We were also able to see and connect with people that were getting results. In a year of depessing economic news, it was good to hear that some people (myself included) were having their best year EVER in business. Many of them were doing something new, out of the box, or testing an entirely different market, but they were doing SOMETHING - and it was working. It wasn't one particular market that was seeing success, these industries were as varied as the women that worked them.
Michele DeKinder-Smith's JaneOutOfTheBox.com direct mail campaign was genius! Complete with what NOT to do, it was so cool to see what happened, what worked and what didn't in a way that we could translate into our own business. That was AWESOME!
You get what you take out of an event like this. I came not expecting much in terms of content (Ali was still creating content only a couple of weeks before the event, according to social media posts). My focus was on learning from others in the room, seeing what new "tricks" Ali had up her sleeve, and hearing from the celeb speakers.
The event totally matched my expectations, although I was hoping for more. When things become predictable for me, that's a sign that it's time to uplevel my thinking and connect with more ambitious folks. That was a huge take-away for me.
Whenever major upleveling happens in my life, it's usually coupled with a major weather disturbance (weird, I know). So after Sunday's earthquake AND the tropical storm we flew through on my way home, I knew I made a good decision to attend Shine - even if the content wasn't all that was promised.
So for as much belly aching as I did yesterday, you can see there was still a ton of awesome goings on in Vegas. Plus, I made a few new friends, and even spied a celebrity or two in the lobby of my hotel after the event. And yes, staying a couple of extra days definitely gave me time to get some clarity on my 2010 directions as well. New ideas, new biz ventures, and some great new connections means that 2010 will likely be my best year yet.
Bring. It. On.
Showing posts with label branding. Show all posts
Showing posts with label branding. Show all posts
Deception-Success Connection Dilemma: #SHINE Wrap-up Part 1
This wrap up has many facets. As such, I wanted to make separate posts for each of them. A lot of good came from this event. A LOT. And I will give ample room on this blog for that. But I'm a "bad news first" kind of girl, so here's where it gets a little - as my friend ElizabethPW would say - snarky.
So I didn't plan on going to the Ali event for content. In fact, after hearing Ali herself profess to watering down her content at previous event, I really wasn't expecting much. I looked at this as an investment in meeting new people, forging some great new business conacts, firming up some online friendships in real life, and possibly getting some content along the way.
In fact, the content was frosting. I was hoping for some face time with the speakers, but it was made clear early on that we probably wouldn't get that. So I expected a big pitch for her Platinum/Diamond program along with a sprinkling of ideas from Think and Grow Rich and some business math - since she told us to bring our calculator.
I pretty much got what I expected, which is all at once disappointing and promising at the same time. Day one was by far the most content packed day of the event - but mostly it was the inner game of business. As I had recently come from a mastermind goup meeting of my own, I had already done the values activity, and made light work of that task. For the investment, Day one was really where the hard work of the event happened.
A lot of people took a lot out of the values exercise. People talked about it all of the three days we were in session - and it was a great way to start the event. In fact, if it weren't for one glaring issue on day one, I would have said it was the best day of the entire event.
And no, I'm not talking about the fire alarm. That was incredibly hysterical.
The problem I had was that after the values exercise, Ali openly revealed that "truth" was one of her top 5 values. I'm all for truth, and I think it's great. I also know that we all lie, so there's a very fine line you have to walk as a public persona that values truth so highly.
So imagine my shock and awe when both of Ali's speakers for day one openly admitted to lying in order to achieve success. Julie Clark, founder of Baby Einstein lied to a buyer, telling her that the previous buyer "loved her video and was planning to put it on the shelves in the stores", when in fact, she hadn't even heard back form the buyer in the first place. Anne McKevitt lied about her age after running away from home to score a job with celeb hair stylist John Frieda.
Some people I talked to said "Hey, you do whatever it takes." or "Act as if, right?" Everyone has their own ethics barometer, and I'm not here to debate that. What bothered me was that Ali said she valued truth, and then put two very successful women on her stage that openly admitted to lying.
That REALLY bugged me. She didn't call them out on it or anything. If truth is such a highly valued commodity in Ali's world, why was it so lacking in two of her featured speakers? The message I walked away with is "the truth is okay, but you have to lie if you want to be successful." I tweeted about it several times because it really got to me.
These women were incredibly inspiring - from an "over come any obstacle" standpoint. I'll talk more about that on my next post.
Then there was a short message from one of the three event sponsors. And by short I mean incredibly long and unintelligible to an audience that doesn't do much in the way of day trading. And why did only one sponsor get to speak from the stage? Did the other two not pay enough? That seemed goofy to me. I know that they sponsored the VIP party, but MichelePW sponsored the sponsored the elegant morning breakfast on all three days, which was far more valuable to the entire group. She could have given a USEFUL presentation that would have captured the hearts of all in the room. She's a COPYWRITER after all!
The last bummer of the day was Anne's lambasting of branding. She began with a graphic depicting the top of a soda bottle, a coffee cup, a tennis shoe, and a hamburger - all unidentified. She then asked us to write down the first brand that came to mind.
Her point was to convey the power of branding. But her point got lost in translation as she proceeded to tear apart nearly every woman in the room by telling us we're wasting time on social media, that we shouldn't put our twitter id or picture on our biz cards, and that glossy stock screams cheesy "realtor" or something to that effect.
She further went on to say that we needed a business name that tells people exactly what we're about, and that if our tagline could do it, then we were "okay", but that we really needed a name that was clear to identify.
Ironically, the four brand names that were most popular in the above mentioned quiz? Coke, Starbucks, Nike, McDonald's - NONE of which tell you a damn thing about their product.
Anne tried to construct a corporate advertising brand on a personal/personality-based branding frame. In several of the inpromptu moments when Anne was "cornered" between sessions, she was found analysing and collecting business cards, telling people what was "wrong" with them. At least three times I heard her tell people that if they couldn't afford to spend the few hundred/couple thousand dollars to have a quality business card designed and printed, that they shouldn't be in business.
Them's hard words to swallow in a room of people where many spent their last penny (and then some) just to get to the event, let alone order business cards.
And yes, my card totally violated the Anne McKevitt rules of engagement. It was a temp I made on glossy stock just for the event with my pic, twitter id and a blurb on the back that said we met at Shine.
They're collectors items now. hee hee.
But as an Idea Coach, I had three people approach me to help them come up with a new name for their business based on Anne's suggestions - and they were able to find me again in that sea of people because my picture was on my card! How sad is that?
Day two began by trying to play catchup on content that we couldn't finish thanks to the fire alarm. Unfortunately, what I was HOPING would be implementation and strategy to help us make use of the business models she provided, ended up being overview. I can already read the diagrams, thanks. Overview wasn't particularly value added to me.
Ali was clever in that she was able to sprinkle in more testimonials about how her current clients were successful with the business models - and nearly all of them ended with some kind of "you're the best!" testimonial for Ali's MPC program.
Knowing Ali's live event format, I expected testimonials, but I expected them to come during the panel in the evening (and I wasn't disappointed). I also expected them to be subtantive - especially in light of the new FTC rules taking effect Dec 1 (A question Ali wouldn't field during her Q&A session). I even expected a session with James Roche to set the positive frame of his role in the MPC program, and his session on the entrepreneur's path wasn't too bad.
Barbara Corcoran was a pip - and I enjoyed her stories immensely. I didn't enjoy the recurring theme of having to BS her way to billions, which again seemed to be the antithesis of what Ali said she held as a core value (truth).
The highlight of Day two was Adam Haroun's makeover during the late night hot seats. He was able to immediately see the value of his offerings, and make some powerful connections to grow his business - something I think we were all hoping would happen for us on day two.
Day three was incredibly rushed. In fact, the peer-to-peer reviews were what I was waiting for all weekend - and they never materialized. Ali didn't even have time to complete a portion of the event and promised to continue it on a teleclass at a later date. I'm wondering how the return policy will be affected by this turn of events.
The business plan was an interesting cross between vision board and action plan, but seemed to lack substance. There were a lot of A-ha's being shared, and Dr. Jill Bolte Taylor's TED video about the left and right hemispheres of the brain drew quite a response. Highlight number one of Day three.
When it came down to "studying" Napoleon Hill's book, Think and Grow Rich, I chuckled at Ali's gaffe, when she said she wished there were "Cliff Notes" for the book. Apparently she didn't know it was taken from a much larger work of Hill's -so in essence it WAS the Cliff Notes. Hee hee. Ultimately, though, Ali let the audience lead this session with their own a-ha's, and shared relatively little insight of her own.
And no, we didn't need a calculator. Ever.
We did need a few tissues either from laughing too hard or crying a bit at the AMAZING Marlee Matlin. I was disheartened to hear that of all our successful speakers, it was the most honest, hard working, no b.s'ing of the bunch that didn't have a multi-million dollar company under her belt.
But perhaps, that's because her definition of success is a more holistic one.
Marlee was definitely Highlight number ONE of the entire event.
And yes, we did contact Ali's team about the content that wasn't delivered. They indicated they're "checking into" it to see what Ali plans to do.
I can't help but wonder as a handful of folks are actually speaking out about the daashed expectations and disappointments at Shine, how many other people are watching the empress and not telling her she's unclothed?
So there's the ugly, the bad, and some of the good.
More good to follow. Promise.
So I didn't plan on going to the Ali event for content. In fact, after hearing Ali herself profess to watering down her content at previous event, I really wasn't expecting much. I looked at this as an investment in meeting new people, forging some great new business conacts, firming up some online friendships in real life, and possibly getting some content along the way.
In fact, the content was frosting. I was hoping for some face time with the speakers, but it was made clear early on that we probably wouldn't get that. So I expected a big pitch for her Platinum/Diamond program along with a sprinkling of ideas from Think and Grow Rich and some business math - since she told us to bring our calculator.
I pretty much got what I expected, which is all at once disappointing and promising at the same time. Day one was by far the most content packed day of the event - but mostly it was the inner game of business. As I had recently come from a mastermind goup meeting of my own, I had already done the values activity, and made light work of that task. For the investment, Day one was really where the hard work of the event happened.
A lot of people took a lot out of the values exercise. People talked about it all of the three days we were in session - and it was a great way to start the event. In fact, if it weren't for one glaring issue on day one, I would have said it was the best day of the entire event.
And no, I'm not talking about the fire alarm. That was incredibly hysterical.
The problem I had was that after the values exercise, Ali openly revealed that "truth" was one of her top 5 values. I'm all for truth, and I think it's great. I also know that we all lie, so there's a very fine line you have to walk as a public persona that values truth so highly.
So imagine my shock and awe when both of Ali's speakers for day one openly admitted to lying in order to achieve success. Julie Clark, founder of Baby Einstein lied to a buyer, telling her that the previous buyer "loved her video and was planning to put it on the shelves in the stores", when in fact, she hadn't even heard back form the buyer in the first place. Anne McKevitt lied about her age after running away from home to score a job with celeb hair stylist John Frieda.
Some people I talked to said "Hey, you do whatever it takes." or "Act as if, right?" Everyone has their own ethics barometer, and I'm not here to debate that. What bothered me was that Ali said she valued truth, and then put two very successful women on her stage that openly admitted to lying.
That REALLY bugged me. She didn't call them out on it or anything. If truth is such a highly valued commodity in Ali's world, why was it so lacking in two of her featured speakers? The message I walked away with is "the truth is okay, but you have to lie if you want to be successful." I tweeted about it several times because it really got to me.
These women were incredibly inspiring - from an "over come any obstacle" standpoint. I'll talk more about that on my next post.
Then there was a short message from one of the three event sponsors. And by short I mean incredibly long and unintelligible to an audience that doesn't do much in the way of day trading. And why did only one sponsor get to speak from the stage? Did the other two not pay enough? That seemed goofy to me. I know that they sponsored the VIP party, but MichelePW sponsored the sponsored the elegant morning breakfast on all three days, which was far more valuable to the entire group. She could have given a USEFUL presentation that would have captured the hearts of all in the room. She's a COPYWRITER after all!
The last bummer of the day was Anne's lambasting of branding. She began with a graphic depicting the top of a soda bottle, a coffee cup, a tennis shoe, and a hamburger - all unidentified. She then asked us to write down the first brand that came to mind.
Her point was to convey the power of branding. But her point got lost in translation as she proceeded to tear apart nearly every woman in the room by telling us we're wasting time on social media, that we shouldn't put our twitter id or picture on our biz cards, and that glossy stock screams cheesy "realtor" or something to that effect.
She further went on to say that we needed a business name that tells people exactly what we're about, and that if our tagline could do it, then we were "okay", but that we really needed a name that was clear to identify.
Ironically, the four brand names that were most popular in the above mentioned quiz? Coke, Starbucks, Nike, McDonald's - NONE of which tell you a damn thing about their product.
Anne tried to construct a corporate advertising brand on a personal/personality-based branding frame. In several of the inpromptu moments when Anne was "cornered" between sessions, she was found analysing and collecting business cards, telling people what was "wrong" with them. At least three times I heard her tell people that if they couldn't afford to spend the few hundred/couple thousand dollars to have a quality business card designed and printed, that they shouldn't be in business.
Them's hard words to swallow in a room of people where many spent their last penny (and then some) just to get to the event, let alone order business cards.
And yes, my card totally violated the Anne McKevitt rules of engagement. It was a temp I made on glossy stock just for the event with my pic, twitter id and a blurb on the back that said we met at Shine.
They're collectors items now. hee hee.
But as an Idea Coach, I had three people approach me to help them come up with a new name for their business based on Anne's suggestions - and they were able to find me again in that sea of people because my picture was on my card! How sad is that?
Day two began by trying to play catchup on content that we couldn't finish thanks to the fire alarm. Unfortunately, what I was HOPING would be implementation and strategy to help us make use of the business models she provided, ended up being overview. I can already read the diagrams, thanks. Overview wasn't particularly value added to me.
Ali was clever in that she was able to sprinkle in more testimonials about how her current clients were successful with the business models - and nearly all of them ended with some kind of "you're the best!" testimonial for Ali's MPC program.
Knowing Ali's live event format, I expected testimonials, but I expected them to come during the panel in the evening (and I wasn't disappointed). I also expected them to be subtantive - especially in light of the new FTC rules taking effect Dec 1 (A question Ali wouldn't field during her Q&A session). I even expected a session with James Roche to set the positive frame of his role in the MPC program, and his session on the entrepreneur's path wasn't too bad.
Barbara Corcoran was a pip - and I enjoyed her stories immensely. I didn't enjoy the recurring theme of having to BS her way to billions, which again seemed to be the antithesis of what Ali said she held as a core value (truth).
The highlight of Day two was Adam Haroun's makeover during the late night hot seats. He was able to immediately see the value of his offerings, and make some powerful connections to grow his business - something I think we were all hoping would happen for us on day two.
Day three was incredibly rushed. In fact, the peer-to-peer reviews were what I was waiting for all weekend - and they never materialized. Ali didn't even have time to complete a portion of the event and promised to continue it on a teleclass at a later date. I'm wondering how the return policy will be affected by this turn of events.
The business plan was an interesting cross between vision board and action plan, but seemed to lack substance. There were a lot of A-ha's being shared, and Dr. Jill Bolte Taylor's TED video about the left and right hemispheres of the brain drew quite a response. Highlight number one of Day three.
When it came down to "studying" Napoleon Hill's book, Think and Grow Rich, I chuckled at Ali's gaffe, when she said she wished there were "Cliff Notes" for the book. Apparently she didn't know it was taken from a much larger work of Hill's -so in essence it WAS the Cliff Notes. Hee hee. Ultimately, though, Ali let the audience lead this session with their own a-ha's, and shared relatively little insight of her own.
And no, we didn't need a calculator. Ever.
We did need a few tissues either from laughing too hard or crying a bit at the AMAZING Marlee Matlin. I was disheartened to hear that of all our successful speakers, it was the most honest, hard working, no b.s'ing of the bunch that didn't have a multi-million dollar company under her belt.
But perhaps, that's because her definition of success is a more holistic one.
Marlee was definitely Highlight number ONE of the entire event.
And yes, we did contact Ali's team about the content that wasn't delivered. They indicated they're "checking into" it to see what Ali plans to do.
I can't help but wonder as a handful of folks are actually speaking out about the daashed expectations and disappointments at Shine, how many other people are watching the empress and not telling her she's unclothed?
So there's the ugly, the bad, and some of the good.
More good to follow. Promise.
Online Marketing: 10 lessons from the James Ray incident
Many of you know I'm not a news watcher, so when my mastermind group shared the news about the James Ray 'death lodge' incident today, I was a bit taken aback, but not totally surprised.
I can't begin to comment on the tragedy that occurred, nor on anything that Ray represents. That's not what this post is about. Anytime someone dies unexpectedly - for any reason - there are questions, pain, and more suffering than anyone should ever have to endure.
I'll save that for others better qualified than I to investigate.
This is not to negate or downplay ANYTHING that happened in Arizona. On the contrary, these 10 lessons are important for everyone in business to learn - and fast, regardless of the outcome of the investigation:
First, at least one major media outlet was compelled to include James' twitter id in their article. James couldn't be reached for comment, so the outlet ripped quotes from his twitter page regarding the incident.
Lesson one: Make sure what you're sharing online is fit to print.
Lesson two: Even the media recognizes the marketing value of sites like twitter - and has no compunction about using it to THEIR advantage either!
At seeing his twitter id, I got curious - as I'm sure many others did. After a small amount of digging, I discovered that even after the news reports reaching national media, James' follower count continues to increase - by nearly a hundred a day!
Lesson three: Even bad press can bring you new followers
Lesson four: It doesn't mean those followers are quality - they could be waiting to watch you hang.
James has recently come under fire for his high-pressure sales tactics - in fact, many have alleged "brain washing" during this tragedy - to the extreme. I've said it before, and I'll say it again, our job is not to sell people stuff. Our job is to help people make informed decisions that will improve their lives.
Anything less than that, and we're doing a disservice to our clients and to ourselves.
James, one of the featured 'stars' of "The Secret" has been delivering a message of profound impact for years. Just because the messenger "falls from grace" doesn't make the message any less meaningful for the people it has impacted.
Often times we, as a society (even a global one) put a person on a pedestal that they do not rightly belong on. Remember, we are all fatally flawed. Again, this is not to downplay anything that happened in Arizona. But how often have we falling in love with the music of a singer, the athleticism of a pro ball player or the work of a master artist only to have our graven image of them dashed on the rocks when they inevitably mar our picture perfect image of them with some human error?
It doesn't negate the beauty of the work, only the character of the person. I know several people that have been positively impacted by Ray's message. The deep disappointment they are dealing with now, is difficult to navigate. AND there are fans of Ray's that are defending him to the end.
Lesson five: Never place yourself above anyone else. You are no more, and no less than any other human on the planet.
Lesson six: When you do your job well, you will have die hard fans that will follow you to the ends of the earth and defend your honor in any situation.
In reading the reports, I read the name "Howard Bragman" as Ray's Publicist. Bragman is considered one of the greatest PR guys in the industry. In fact, I just picked up his book "Where's My Fifteen Minutes?" at my local library last week, so I'm watching with interest to see how this shakes out. Jim Lampley said "When you're on the ropes, you want Howard Bragman in your corner." That's a quote from the back cover of Bragman's book.
No doubt, Bragman is keeping his client quiet until there's time to sort through everything - which is smart. While many people are railing agains Ray's silence, the WORST thing he could do is open his mouth and "insert his foot".
As a business owner, everything he has is at stake here - and he knows it (along with the rest of the world). He may be dying inside to offer apologies, or tell his side of everything (or not), but even a well-intended apology could come off as a makehift admission of guilt if the media has an opportunity to spin it.
I'm reminded of the fortune cookie where it's better to remain silent, than to open your mouth and "remove all doubt". Innocence (or guilt) should be determined by qualified authorities - and I ain't one of them.
Lesson seven: everything you say can be used against you in times of trouble. Make every word count
Lesson eight: even when you're trying to do right, it can be misconstrued, and you'll never make everyone happy.
We as a public, want answers. We as business owners need to look at this situation and learn.
Be proactive, remember we're dealing with people's lives - whether we sell shoes or inspiration. Whether we offer $.99 widgets or $10,000 week-long retreats. Whatever we're doing needs to be focused on serving others, providing value and reaping the benefits of the work we've done. That implies the work must be done before the reward is received.
Coaches, trainers and speakers need to be on the offensive here. In just a few short hours since I've learned of this tragedy, already the barrage of "snake oil", "shyster" and other epithets have already created a firestorm online. Let's be sure we're not slapping an unwarranted label on an entire industry just because things went awry. Should there be failsafes in place? Absolutely. Inasmuch as direct sellers have gotten a bum rap for the slimy, pushy salesmen that have weasled their way through our organizations, so too may we find the motivational industry likewise marred by this horriffic event.
Where's the justice in that?
Lesson nine: those who paint with broad brush strokes make great white washers
Lesson ten: It takes great effort and much patience to work with a detailed hand.
Probably not the lessons you were expecting, but I'm known for my irreverence.
When I originally created this blog - as "Real Life Marketing" - the objective was to show how we could learn significant lessons for marketing our business from the everyday things that go on around us. While this is one event I hope never becomes an every day occurence, you can certainly see the lessons we can all walk away with from this tragedy. There are others, to be sure. As business owners, we need to be mindful, and ever ready to protect ourselves, our investment and our business.
I can't begin to comment on the tragedy that occurred, nor on anything that Ray represents. That's not what this post is about. Anytime someone dies unexpectedly - for any reason - there are questions, pain, and more suffering than anyone should ever have to endure.
I'll save that for others better qualified than I to investigate.
This is not to negate or downplay ANYTHING that happened in Arizona. On the contrary, these 10 lessons are important for everyone in business to learn - and fast, regardless of the outcome of the investigation:
First, at least one major media outlet was compelled to include James' twitter id in their article. James couldn't be reached for comment, so the outlet ripped quotes from his twitter page regarding the incident.
Lesson one: Make sure what you're sharing online is fit to print.
Lesson two: Even the media recognizes the marketing value of sites like twitter - and has no compunction about using it to THEIR advantage either!
At seeing his twitter id, I got curious - as I'm sure many others did. After a small amount of digging, I discovered that even after the news reports reaching national media, James' follower count continues to increase - by nearly a hundred a day!
Lesson three: Even bad press can bring you new followers
Lesson four: It doesn't mean those followers are quality - they could be waiting to watch you hang.
James has recently come under fire for his high-pressure sales tactics - in fact, many have alleged "brain washing" during this tragedy - to the extreme. I've said it before, and I'll say it again, our job is not to sell people stuff. Our job is to help people make informed decisions that will improve their lives.
Anything less than that, and we're doing a disservice to our clients and to ourselves.
James, one of the featured 'stars' of "The Secret" has been delivering a message of profound impact for years. Just because the messenger "falls from grace" doesn't make the message any less meaningful for the people it has impacted.
Often times we, as a society (even a global one) put a person on a pedestal that they do not rightly belong on. Remember, we are all fatally flawed. Again, this is not to downplay anything that happened in Arizona. But how often have we falling in love with the music of a singer, the athleticism of a pro ball player or the work of a master artist only to have our graven image of them dashed on the rocks when they inevitably mar our picture perfect image of them with some human error?
It doesn't negate the beauty of the work, only the character of the person. I know several people that have been positively impacted by Ray's message. The deep disappointment they are dealing with now, is difficult to navigate. AND there are fans of Ray's that are defending him to the end.
Lesson five: Never place yourself above anyone else. You are no more, and no less than any other human on the planet.
Lesson six: When you do your job well, you will have die hard fans that will follow you to the ends of the earth and defend your honor in any situation.
In reading the reports, I read the name "Howard Bragman" as Ray's Publicist. Bragman is considered one of the greatest PR guys in the industry. In fact, I just picked up his book "Where's My Fifteen Minutes?" at my local library last week, so I'm watching with interest to see how this shakes out. Jim Lampley said "When you're on the ropes, you want Howard Bragman in your corner." That's a quote from the back cover of Bragman's book.
No doubt, Bragman is keeping his client quiet until there's time to sort through everything - which is smart. While many people are railing agains Ray's silence, the WORST thing he could do is open his mouth and "insert his foot".
As a business owner, everything he has is at stake here - and he knows it (along with the rest of the world). He may be dying inside to offer apologies, or tell his side of everything (or not), but even a well-intended apology could come off as a makehift admission of guilt if the media has an opportunity to spin it.
I'm reminded of the fortune cookie where it's better to remain silent, than to open your mouth and "remove all doubt". Innocence (or guilt) should be determined by qualified authorities - and I ain't one of them.
Lesson seven: everything you say can be used against you in times of trouble. Make every word count
Lesson eight: even when you're trying to do right, it can be misconstrued, and you'll never make everyone happy.
We as a public, want answers. We as business owners need to look at this situation and learn.
Be proactive, remember we're dealing with people's lives - whether we sell shoes or inspiration. Whether we offer $.99 widgets or $10,000 week-long retreats. Whatever we're doing needs to be focused on serving others, providing value and reaping the benefits of the work we've done. That implies the work must be done before the reward is received.
Coaches, trainers and speakers need to be on the offensive here. In just a few short hours since I've learned of this tragedy, already the barrage of "snake oil", "shyster" and other epithets have already created a firestorm online. Let's be sure we're not slapping an unwarranted label on an entire industry just because things went awry. Should there be failsafes in place? Absolutely. Inasmuch as direct sellers have gotten a bum rap for the slimy, pushy salesmen that have weasled their way through our organizations, so too may we find the motivational industry likewise marred by this horriffic event.
Where's the justice in that?
Lesson nine: those who paint with broad brush strokes make great white washers
Lesson ten: It takes great effort and much patience to work with a detailed hand.
Probably not the lessons you were expecting, but I'm known for my irreverence.
When I originally created this blog - as "Real Life Marketing" - the objective was to show how we could learn significant lessons for marketing our business from the everyday things that go on around us. While this is one event I hope never becomes an every day occurence, you can certainly see the lessons we can all walk away with from this tragedy. There are others, to be sure. As business owners, we need to be mindful, and ever ready to protect ourselves, our investment and our business.
Develop an Online Marketing Strategy FIRST
Online Marketing is more than Social Media.
There's products, services, websites, blogs, email, opt-ins, copy, autoresponders and so much more to the picture.
Here's one of the recent entries in my 12-Week Challenge Contest:
"My biggest challenge with marketing my business online is......taking all the info that I have learned from various sources and translating it into a workable, realistic plan that I can easily stick to. My weakness is jumping from great idea to excellent implementation" - Anna Marie
(If you haven't entered yet, there's still time to enter here.)
One of the big hurdles to navigating the web is what to do first - and how to make it effective. There are as many opinions as there are experts on the topic about what will work best - for small business or direct sellers. One thing most everyone seems to agree on, however, is the importance of developing a strategy FIRST.
When you approach building your business with a strategic plan - a roadmap if you will - it becomes much easier to determine where to invest your time, energy and monoey for maximum effectiveness.
The same holds true when creating an online presence. Create a roadmap that outlines exactly what your objectives are. Once you've developed that strategy, you can look to which elements of online marketing will best meet those objectives, and make an educated decision about the amount of time, entegy and money you'll invest in each.
At present, I maintain several blogs and websites - in addition to my multiple social media presences, newsletters, and offline media.
I STARTED with one thing.
This is the big "sticky wicket" that online marketing strategiest want to pose - set up multiple things, try to keep all the plates spinning and watch it all come crashing down in a huge time suck.
The reality of all this online marketing hoo-hah is that there's really only one place you need to start when it comes to growing your business online. It's something I call your Perfect Fit Customer.
Once you've identified your Perfect Fit Customer - which is not just a demographic, but a complete profile of the ideal client you want to serve - you can lay out an effective strategy to approach, attract and retain people with whom you enjoy working.
An effective strategy begins with clarity and focus. The first place to focus is on your passion. Assuming your business is a reflection of your passion, the next place to focus is your perfect fit customer. Once you're clear on who you want to serve, the next step is figuring out where to find them - and you may discover that it's NOT an online environment, after all.
*GASP!* Did I just recommend against an online strategy?
Well, if your perfect fit customer doesn't own a computer, online marketing is virtually pointless, isn't it?
Fortunately, that's not the case for the majority of purchasers in the US these days.
The point is that you need to know WHERE to find your perfect fit customer before you go off looking for them - otherwise you're just snipe hunting.
In our 12-Week Challenge, we'll begin with an in-depth look at your Perfect Fit Customer, help you determine your area of expertise, and lay out a customized online marketing strategy built around the way YOU do business. Designed for small business owners of all types - not just direct sellers - the 12-Week challenge is great for anyone looking for hand on help to grow their business using online marketing strategies.
Get the full details at homepartysolution.com/12weeks.
Tickets go on sale tomorrow!
There's products, services, websites, blogs, email, opt-ins, copy, autoresponders and so much more to the picture.
Here's one of the recent entries in my 12-Week Challenge Contest:
"My biggest challenge with marketing my business online is......taking all the info that I have learned from various sources and translating it into a workable, realistic plan that I can easily stick to. My weakness is jumping from great idea to excellent implementation" - Anna Marie
(If you haven't entered yet, there's still time to enter here.)
One of the big hurdles to navigating the web is what to do first - and how to make it effective. There are as many opinions as there are experts on the topic about what will work best - for small business or direct sellers. One thing most everyone seems to agree on, however, is the importance of developing a strategy FIRST.
When you approach building your business with a strategic plan - a roadmap if you will - it becomes much easier to determine where to invest your time, energy and monoey for maximum effectiveness.
The same holds true when creating an online presence. Create a roadmap that outlines exactly what your objectives are. Once you've developed that strategy, you can look to which elements of online marketing will best meet those objectives, and make an educated decision about the amount of time, entegy and money you'll invest in each.
At present, I maintain several blogs and websites - in addition to my multiple social media presences, newsletters, and offline media.
I STARTED with one thing.
This is the big "sticky wicket" that online marketing strategiest want to pose - set up multiple things, try to keep all the plates spinning and watch it all come crashing down in a huge time suck.
The reality of all this online marketing hoo-hah is that there's really only one place you need to start when it comes to growing your business online. It's something I call your Perfect Fit Customer.
Once you've identified your Perfect Fit Customer - which is not just a demographic, but a complete profile of the ideal client you want to serve - you can lay out an effective strategy to approach, attract and retain people with whom you enjoy working.
An effective strategy begins with clarity and focus. The first place to focus is on your passion. Assuming your business is a reflection of your passion, the next place to focus is your perfect fit customer. Once you're clear on who you want to serve, the next step is figuring out where to find them - and you may discover that it's NOT an online environment, after all.
*GASP!* Did I just recommend against an online strategy?
Well, if your perfect fit customer doesn't own a computer, online marketing is virtually pointless, isn't it?
Fortunately, that's not the case for the majority of purchasers in the US these days.
The point is that you need to know WHERE to find your perfect fit customer before you go off looking for them - otherwise you're just snipe hunting.
In our 12-Week Challenge, we'll begin with an in-depth look at your Perfect Fit Customer, help you determine your area of expertise, and lay out a customized online marketing strategy built around the way YOU do business. Designed for small business owners of all types - not just direct sellers - the 12-Week challenge is great for anyone looking for hand on help to grow their business using online marketing strategies.
Get the full details at homepartysolution.com/12weeks.
Tickets go on sale tomorrow!
Home Party Solution 12 Week Challenge Contest
People have been asking me for months now if what I teach inside the pages of Home Party Solution will work for them - even if they don't have a network marketing, or direct sales business.
I love this question, because it means they haven't read the book yet. If they had, they'd know the answer is a resounding yes! In fact, I've been using some of the same strategies I teach in this book with my Simpleology Coaching clients - and many of them don't have a network marketing business of any kind. I've used these strategies with authors, owners of a theater, and other businesses that need to put a personal face on the work that they do.
While there are some aspects of the book that talk directly to people in the direct selling profession, the bulk of the book is geared to any small business owner.
If you are a micro biz owner, a solo-professional, or anyone trying to develop a personal brand online and attract more perfect fit clients using strategic target marketing, social media, websites, opt-ins and more, it's time to consider my 12 week challenge.
I'm even going to let a 6 lucky readers have access to the entire program FREE (with product and services totally nearly $10,000 for the 12 week program).
Intrigued? Read on...
The Home Party Solution 12 Week Challenge is a telecoaching program that walks you through the entire online marketing model I've used to create several successful businesses. We begin with mindset issues, then develop a "perfect fit" customer profile, and lay out the strategies you'll need to grow your business using personal branding and the power of the Internet. From websites to blogs to social media giants like Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube, you'll have everything you need at your fingertips.
And if you're like many business owners I know, it's hard to know what you'll be doing in 12 weeks, so if you need to miss a class, you'll even have the MP3's to listen to to keep moving forward, or to re-listen to a strategy you might have missed.
It's easy to enter. Just answer this question:
What is your biggest challenge with marketing your business online?
What you'll win:
All eligible entrants will get complimentary access to the March 2010 Super Summit Teleseries - and the audio downloads (a $100 REAL value, people paid that much for each of my two previous summits and March looks to be even MORE spectacular!).
10 winners will get a 1-on-1 Target Marketing Session with me ($175 REAL value - I charge and get $175 per half our of coaching). We'll spend 30 minutes honing in on your perfect-fit customer and develop a preliminary marketing strategy to help you reach your target market and attract customers you WANT to work with.
5 winners will get access to the entire 12 week challenge - including Audio downloads ($297 REAL value - only 175 seats will be available for this event - and the first 5 will be filled here!)
ONE Grand prize winner will get all of the above (That's a $472 REAL value, folks)
How to Enter:
Write a paragraph, describing your biggest challenge with marketing your business online - you don't NEED to be involved in a Direct Sales business to enter or win. Just write it up and post it either to your blog or facebook with a link back to this post. Then email us at lisa126-465599@autocontactor.com so that we know you're eligible for the prizes. You'll get a confirmation email right away.
You can also post your question here and then Share This Post on twitter or facebook (or both!).
Here's the link, if you want to tell your friends and neighbors: http://www.homepartysolution.com/contest
Aren't engaged in social media? You can still enter by emailing your entry to the email address above. All eligible entries will be posted to this blog, regardless of how you enter.
Contest Rules:
Winners will be selected at random from all eligible entries on October 20, 2009. Only one entry per email address is allowed. Winners will be notified via email and an announcement will be made on this blog.
Tomorrow, you'll learn more about the 12 week challenge. We begin October 26 and there's only 175 total spaces available, and tickets go on sale soon. If you purchase your ticket and are declared a contest winner, your purchase will be refunded.
Best of luck everyone!
I love this question, because it means they haven't read the book yet. If they had, they'd know the answer is a resounding yes! In fact, I've been using some of the same strategies I teach in this book with my Simpleology Coaching clients - and many of them don't have a network marketing business of any kind. I've used these strategies with authors, owners of a theater, and other businesses that need to put a personal face on the work that they do.
While there are some aspects of the book that talk directly to people in the direct selling profession, the bulk of the book is geared to any small business owner.
If you are a micro biz owner, a solo-professional, or anyone trying to develop a personal brand online and attract more perfect fit clients using strategic target marketing, social media, websites, opt-ins and more, it's time to consider my 12 week challenge.
I'm even going to let a 6 lucky readers have access to the entire program FREE (with product and services totally nearly $10,000 for the 12 week program).
Intrigued? Read on...
The Home Party Solution 12 Week Challenge is a telecoaching program that walks you through the entire online marketing model I've used to create several successful businesses. We begin with mindset issues, then develop a "perfect fit" customer profile, and lay out the strategies you'll need to grow your business using personal branding and the power of the Internet. From websites to blogs to social media giants like Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube, you'll have everything you need at your fingertips.
And if you're like many business owners I know, it's hard to know what you'll be doing in 12 weeks, so if you need to miss a class, you'll even have the MP3's to listen to to keep moving forward, or to re-listen to a strategy you might have missed.
It's easy to enter. Just answer this question:
What is your biggest challenge with marketing your business online?
What you'll win:
All eligible entrants will get complimentary access to the March 2010 Super Summit Teleseries - and the audio downloads (a $100 REAL value, people paid that much for each of my two previous summits and March looks to be even MORE spectacular!).
10 winners will get a 1-on-1 Target Marketing Session with me ($175 REAL value - I charge and get $175 per half our of coaching). We'll spend 30 minutes honing in on your perfect-fit customer and develop a preliminary marketing strategy to help you reach your target market and attract customers you WANT to work with.
5 winners will get access to the entire 12 week challenge - including Audio downloads ($297 REAL value - only 175 seats will be available for this event - and the first 5 will be filled here!)
ONE Grand prize winner will get all of the above (That's a $472 REAL value, folks)
How to Enter:
Write a paragraph, describing your biggest challenge with marketing your business online - you don't NEED to be involved in a Direct Sales business to enter or win. Just write it up and post it either to your blog or facebook with a link back to this post. Then email us at lisa126-465599@autocontactor.com so that we know you're eligible for the prizes. You'll get a confirmation email right away.
You can also post your question here and then Share This Post on twitter or facebook (or both!).
Here's the link, if you want to tell your friends and neighbors: http://www.homepartysolution.com/contest
Aren't engaged in social media? You can still enter by emailing your entry to the email address above. All eligible entries will be posted to this blog, regardless of how you enter.
Contest Rules:
Winners will be selected at random from all eligible entries on October 20, 2009. Only one entry per email address is allowed. Winners will be notified via email and an announcement will be made on this blog.
Tomorrow, you'll learn more about the 12 week challenge. We begin October 26 and there's only 175 total spaces available, and tickets go on sale soon. If you purchase your ticket and are declared a contest winner, your purchase will be refunded.
Best of luck everyone!
Direct Sales & Google: A Primer
Recently, I got a couple of emails asking about getting more visibility in google - including higher search engine rankings. While the whole of SEO is beyond the scope of this article, there ARE two easy ways to get yourself "noticed" by Google. One is fast, and wll get you to page one on Google within a day or two, the other may take more time.
The fastest and easiest way is to set up your google profile. Google allows you to great a profile page that shares a bit of who you are -including links to any of your websites.
This is a super smart tool for the direct seller who wants to drive traffic to a personal website (NOT your company site, unless that's permissible by your company). Simply add the URL's for any sites about you - including your facebook and twitter profile page. Add a recent photo, and you've got a great way to appear on the first page of Google any time someone Googles your name. Plus, with a VERY high page rank, Google profiles will lend credibility to your site, and increase your exposure.
Google also allows you to add your own URL to Google's database manually. This can take a lot longer for Google to index, because it prefers to find naturally linked sites, but I always recommend adding your site just to be on the safe side. Google never guarntees that a site will be included, and you need to make sure that you don't violate any company policies that your direct sales company may have regarding submitting their name to search engines.
I always recommend submitting your own sites - not those of your company - just to keep your nose clean. Plus, as I always say, YOU are the most important product your company has to offer, so promote yourself first!
==========
Have more questions about marketing yourself online? Google is just one piece of the online marketing puzzle. Without an online marketing strategy (social media, etc), you may find yourself pulling your hair out and calling it quits before any real progress is made. Lisa Robbin Young is the only Certified Direct Sales Marketing Coach in the WORLD, and can take the guesswork out of using the Internet to promote your direct sales business. Visit the free online community for direct sellers today at http://www.homepartysolution.com
The fastest and easiest way is to set up your google profile. Google allows you to great a profile page that shares a bit of who you are -including links to any of your websites.
This is a super smart tool for the direct seller who wants to drive traffic to a personal website (NOT your company site, unless that's permissible by your company). Simply add the URL's for any sites about you - including your facebook and twitter profile page. Add a recent photo, and you've got a great way to appear on the first page of Google any time someone Googles your name. Plus, with a VERY high page rank, Google profiles will lend credibility to your site, and increase your exposure.
Google also allows you to add your own URL to Google's database manually. This can take a lot longer for Google to index, because it prefers to find naturally linked sites, but I always recommend adding your site just to be on the safe side. Google never guarntees that a site will be included, and you need to make sure that you don't violate any company policies that your direct sales company may have regarding submitting their name to search engines.
I always recommend submitting your own sites - not those of your company - just to keep your nose clean. Plus, as I always say, YOU are the most important product your company has to offer, so promote yourself first!
==========
Have more questions about marketing yourself online? Google is just one piece of the online marketing puzzle. Without an online marketing strategy (social media, etc), you may find yourself pulling your hair out and calling it quits before any real progress is made. Lisa Robbin Young is the only Certified Direct Sales Marketing Coach in the WORLD, and can take the guesswork out of using the Internet to promote your direct sales business. Visit the free online community for direct sellers today at http://www.homepartysolution.com
Facebook Vanity URLs: 4 Reasons You Need One
At midnight last night, Facebook opened up a new world of branding, identity and marketing: their vanity URL.
According to some reports, hundreds of thousands of people logged on just after midnight and started requesting their own vanity URL.
It makes sense for you to do the same on a number of levels:
1. Ease of access. It's infinitely easier for someone to find me at http://www.facebook.com/lisarobbinyoung than it is at
facebook.com/?profile=2348970o8yq43589y1q... you get the idea.
If for no other reason than to make it easier for people to find you, I strongly recommend the new URL's. BUT there are even more great reasons:
2. More Branded Web Real Estate
With the addition of Google profiles lately, it's becoming easier to get your name on more pieces of Website real estate. More sites with your name build your credibility in the marketplace. Google likes credibility - which means potentially better page rankings and more visibility in teh search engines
3. You MUST brand yourself. Facebook mkes it clear that you can't have a vanity URL like "Flowers4U" or even a trademarked name like "MaryKay", "PamperedChefGirl" or the like. That means you MUST use some derivative of your name to brand your facebook profile. You can use a company name to brand your page - but trademarks are being watched like a hawk. If you're a PartyLite consultant, for example, you can't go create a fan page and get a vanity URL with 'PartyLite' in the name - because it's a trademarked name. You shouldn't want to do it anyway - for reasons I've mentioned in dozens of other articles. Plus, Facebook has the added restriction that fan pages (not profiles) must have at least 1,000 followers effective May 31 in order to qualify for the vanity URL. They may be lowering that limit ata later date, but for now, without 1000 followers, you can't get a vanity URL for your fan pages. VanityURLs do not apply to group pages as far as I've found.
4. You have more control over the URL identity. Many people who orginally signed into Facebook believed that they had to include their "full name" when they created their page, and as such you'll see people with really long names on their profile. So if your name was Janet Hills Baker Smith, you can now opt for Janet Smith, or Janet Baker and people can still find you. '
Plus for the Horowicz's and the Yvnegafney's of the world, you might opt to become "JanetH"or "BillY" if the name is otherwise difficult to spell or is frequently misspelled.
Whatever you choose, make sure it's consistent with how you're promoting yourself in other places. Lisa Young is a common name, so I opted to brand myself as Lisa Robbin Young. Everywhere you look, I'm branded as LisaRobbinYoung as much as possible. Consistency makes it easier for your clients and potential clients to do business with you.
So if you haven't already grabbed your profile vanity URL, get crackin. ESPECIALLY if you have a comon name, your window of opportunity may already have dwindled.
According to some reports, hundreds of thousands of people logged on just after midnight and started requesting their own vanity URL.
It makes sense for you to do the same on a number of levels:
1. Ease of access. It's infinitely easier for someone to find me at http://www.facebook.com/lisarobbinyoung than it is at
facebook.com/?profile=2348970o8yq43589y1q... you get the idea.
If for no other reason than to make it easier for people to find you, I strongly recommend the new URL's. BUT there are even more great reasons:
2. More Branded Web Real Estate
With the addition of Google profiles lately, it's becoming easier to get your name on more pieces of Website real estate. More sites with your name build your credibility in the marketplace. Google likes credibility - which means potentially better page rankings and more visibility in teh search engines
3. You MUST brand yourself. Facebook mkes it clear that you can't have a vanity URL like "Flowers4U" or even a trademarked name like "MaryKay", "PamperedChefGirl" or the like. That means you MUST use some derivative of your name to brand your facebook profile. You can use a company name to brand your page - but trademarks are being watched like a hawk. If you're a PartyLite consultant, for example, you can't go create a fan page and get a vanity URL with 'PartyLite' in the name - because it's a trademarked name. You shouldn't want to do it anyway - for reasons I've mentioned in dozens of other articles. Plus, Facebook has the added restriction that fan pages (not profiles) must have at least 1,000 followers effective May 31 in order to qualify for the vanity URL. They may be lowering that limit ata later date, but for now, without 1000 followers, you can't get a vanity URL for your fan pages. VanityURLs do not apply to group pages as far as I've found.
4. You have more control over the URL identity. Many people who orginally signed into Facebook believed that they had to include their "full name" when they created their page, and as such you'll see people with really long names on their profile. So if your name was Janet Hills Baker Smith, you can now opt for Janet Smith, or Janet Baker and people can still find you. '
Plus for the Horowicz's and the Yvnegafney's of the world, you might opt to become "JanetH"or "BillY" if the name is otherwise difficult to spell or is frequently misspelled.
Whatever you choose, make sure it's consistent with how you're promoting yourself in other places. Lisa Young is a common name, so I opted to brand myself as Lisa Robbin Young. Everywhere you look, I'm branded as LisaRobbinYoung as much as possible. Consistency makes it easier for your clients and potential clients to do business with you.
So if you haven't already grabbed your profile vanity URL, get crackin. ESPECIALLY if you have a comon name, your window of opportunity may already have dwindled.
Direct Sales Brand Democratization: Social Media Style
Jen did it to me again. Here's another post re: social media, democratization and the power of the people:
Kate Newlin’s new book, “Passion Brands”, talks about the power of democratizing the brand – and the fear so many larger companies have over “giving over” to the masses the presumed power of the identity of the brand. She also outlines an amazingly simple formula to take your brand from "blah" to "bravo" that EVERY company owner should read.
In reality, the brand belongs to the people anyway. Why not try to encourage and persuade use that’s in line with the company’s objctives, rather than throwing down a blanket of fear, and essentially stifling the growth of a company?
With over 12 years in the industry, I’ve seen all KINDS of restrictions, as well as a very lassiez faire approach, to online promotion. I think there needs to be a middle ground.
Rather than a no-holds-barred approach to online promotion, companies need to set ground rules and guidelines that enhance the marketing and top of mind awareness for the brand, and balance that with the needs of the tens (or hundreds) of thousands of consultants on the payroll. Many companies provide “approved” ad copy for local publications – there’s really no difference here, except that there's a fear that the brand will "get away from them" in terms of corporate ownership.
If brand owners were enlisting the help of real "passionistas" in their sales force, this would be a non-issue, because the consultants would be so passionate about the product and the service that the message COULDN'T be dilluted.
Instead we have companies with "zero tolerance" for online marketing of any kind putting the fear of being kicked out of the company firmly in the face of every consultant. Except for their top income earners. Those people can seemingly get away with murder sometimes and not even get a slap on the wrist form the very same home office that says "no online advertising of any kind". Yes, it happens, I see it more than I care to count. And the reps and leaders not as high up on the food chain see it too - and it creates serious derision in the ranks whether you care about it or not.
The bad news is that I've personally experienced the decline of a company because their top income earners ultimately had the LEAST amount of loyalty to the brand - still shopping around for the best income opportunity to pad their own bottom line even after years with a company. The leader leaves, taking half the organizaton with them, and a company is crippled, because they put all their eggs in the baskets of their leaders, instead of allowing the most passionate people (regardless of rank) market and promote the company in a positive light.
On the other side of that coin, consultants need to remember that they are the owners of “You, Inc”, not your Direct Sales business, and as we’ve seen all to often in the last few years, a company can go ‘belly up’ and consultants are left holding the bag with a now defunct consultant web site – having to start all over again to rebuild with new company. For advanced leaders, they can bring some of their recrutis with them to the new company, but for young leaders or even new recruits, it's painful, difficult, and sometimes exasperting to have to make a transition, explain it to your customers, and not really have any solid information to give them abotu what really happened.
I teach consultants that if they start embracing the idea of running a real business, then they will see that they are just using their direct sales company as the vehicle to build their own “you inc” PERSONAL brand. A company can’t prohibit you from marketing yourself – just from using their company marks, products, names, etc. Real business owners promote themeselves FIRST anyway. The rest comes secondary.
When we democratize a brand, we naturally give some control over to the people that embrace that brand. It’s important to remember that brands are ultimately nothing more than a perception. Yes, we can shape that perception - but as we've learned since childhood, ACTIONS speak louder than words.
What kind of perception do you (company owners) want to have in the arena? How are you conveying that to your sales force?
What kind of perception do you (direct sellers) want to hav in the marketplace? How are you conveying that to your customers?
The kind of action you need to take to bring a brand closer to the hearts of your passionistas is to get involved with them. Stop distancing yourselves from them, and don't rely on your leaders to communicate everything to the home office - very often they don't. Take time to connect on a personal level with people at ALL levels in your organization. THEN communicate the brand.
Remember, people don't care what you know until they know that you care.
The same holds true for your brand.
Kate Newlin’s new book, “Passion Brands”, talks about the power of democratizing the brand – and the fear so many larger companies have over “giving over” to the masses the presumed power of the identity of the brand. She also outlines an amazingly simple formula to take your brand from "blah" to "bravo" that EVERY company owner should read.
In reality, the brand belongs to the people anyway. Why not try to encourage and persuade use that’s in line with the company’s objctives, rather than throwing down a blanket of fear, and essentially stifling the growth of a company?
With over 12 years in the industry, I’ve seen all KINDS of restrictions, as well as a very lassiez faire approach, to online promotion. I think there needs to be a middle ground.
Rather than a no-holds-barred approach to online promotion, companies need to set ground rules and guidelines that enhance the marketing and top of mind awareness for the brand, and balance that with the needs of the tens (or hundreds) of thousands of consultants on the payroll. Many companies provide “approved” ad copy for local publications – there’s really no difference here, except that there's a fear that the brand will "get away from them" in terms of corporate ownership.
If brand owners were enlisting the help of real "passionistas" in their sales force, this would be a non-issue, because the consultants would be so passionate about the product and the service that the message COULDN'T be dilluted.
Instead we have companies with "zero tolerance" for online marketing of any kind putting the fear of being kicked out of the company firmly in the face of every consultant. Except for their top income earners. Those people can seemingly get away with murder sometimes and not even get a slap on the wrist form the very same home office that says "no online advertising of any kind". Yes, it happens, I see it more than I care to count. And the reps and leaders not as high up on the food chain see it too - and it creates serious derision in the ranks whether you care about it or not.
The bad news is that I've personally experienced the decline of a company because their top income earners ultimately had the LEAST amount of loyalty to the brand - still shopping around for the best income opportunity to pad their own bottom line even after years with a company. The leader leaves, taking half the organizaton with them, and a company is crippled, because they put all their eggs in the baskets of their leaders, instead of allowing the most passionate people (regardless of rank) market and promote the company in a positive light.
On the other side of that coin, consultants need to remember that they are the owners of “You, Inc”, not your Direct Sales business, and as we’ve seen all to often in the last few years, a company can go ‘belly up’ and consultants are left holding the bag with a now defunct consultant web site – having to start all over again to rebuild with new company. For advanced leaders, they can bring some of their recrutis with them to the new company, but for young leaders or even new recruits, it's painful, difficult, and sometimes exasperting to have to make a transition, explain it to your customers, and not really have any solid information to give them abotu what really happened.
I teach consultants that if they start embracing the idea of running a real business, then they will see that they are just using their direct sales company as the vehicle to build their own “you inc” PERSONAL brand. A company can’t prohibit you from marketing yourself – just from using their company marks, products, names, etc. Real business owners promote themeselves FIRST anyway. The rest comes secondary.
When we democratize a brand, we naturally give some control over to the people that embrace that brand. It’s important to remember that brands are ultimately nothing more than a perception. Yes, we can shape that perception - but as we've learned since childhood, ACTIONS speak louder than words.
What kind of perception do you (company owners) want to have in the arena? How are you conveying that to your sales force?
What kind of perception do you (direct sellers) want to hav in the marketplace? How are you conveying that to your customers?
The kind of action you need to take to bring a brand closer to the hearts of your passionistas is to get involved with them. Stop distancing yourselves from them, and don't rely on your leaders to communicate everything to the home office - very often they don't. Take time to connect on a personal level with people at ALL levels in your organization. THEN communicate the brand.
Remember, people don't care what you know until they know that you care.
The same holds true for your brand.
Direct Sellers Need a Social Media Strategy
This is the extended version of a reply to Jennifer Fong's blog post on Software v. Social Media
Pretending that facebook or twitter or other social media contexts do not exists will not make them go away – NOR will it make them less relvant to your company. Companies large and small need a social media strategy.
This includes individual direct sellers. Slapping up a facebook page and posting monthly specials in your status doesn’t not count as a strategy – unless your strategy is to annoy the few who continue to follow you.
Social Media requires interaction – give AND take – not a one-sided “down your throat” approach to brand communication.
Companies (including “you, Inc” direct sellers) need to find ways to engage their prospects/customers/clients where they are at already.
In V. Frankl’s “Man’s Search for Meaning”, he comments on this very idea. Instead of trying to drag, coerce or force people into your worldview, you need to meet them where they are, introduce them to yoru world view and continue to invite them to take the next step in doing business with you.
Gone are the days of hitting people over the head with the “my company is better than the rest” diatribe. There’s far too many voices beating their chests with the same message now. People are far more savvy then they were even just a few decades ago – and they KNOW that you need them. Without them, you fail to exist.
So make it easy for them to connect and get excited about what you have to offer in the world. Don’t just tell them what to think (it doesnt work anymore anyway). Tell them you care about what they’re ALREADY thinking, and help them share it with you!
How do you do that?
Several famous marketers say "join the conversation alredy going on in your prospect's mind". In this case, it means get involved where they'er already 'hanging out'. In the past, that was at home parties, sales meetings and other "get togethers" in person, in real time.
Now, it means there's a 24 hour GLOBAL get together going on in social media networks around the world. You need to establish a presence, maybe even 'lurk' a bit to monitor the conversation. You don't want to be seen as one of those nerdy wannabes that hangout near the watercooler and interject completely irrelevant stuff just to sound like they're part of the group. You have to BE part of the group. Undertand the dynamic, and then get involved. Ask questions, participate and provide VALUE to those that are talking about you.
That doesn't mean being on every social network on the planet. It DOES mean starting somewhere, building a reputation and growing your audience by being part of the audience from time to time. Oprah rarely interacts with her followers on twitter - but then she doesn't follow very many herself. She can't possibly know what the pulse of her audience is if she's not interacting (note: she DOES have other people on her team that DO interact on twitter. SMART Strategy on her part).
If Oprah can do it, so can any Direct Sales company (or any other company) out there. Get involved in the brand you're creating, don't just hold it up like a shield. I believe it was the Spartans that said something abotu coming home with your shield held high or ON it.
Dying for the brand. What a concept! Being so committed that you're personally involved, passionately involved in the livelihoods you're creating for others. That kind of give provides a LOT more in return for you to take.
Plan your entry into social media - but get there, sooner rather than later.
Pretending that facebook or twitter or other social media contexts do not exists will not make them go away – NOR will it make them less relvant to your company. Companies large and small need a social media strategy.
This includes individual direct sellers. Slapping up a facebook page and posting monthly specials in your status doesn’t not count as a strategy – unless your strategy is to annoy the few who continue to follow you.
Social Media requires interaction – give AND take – not a one-sided “down your throat” approach to brand communication.
Companies (including “you, Inc” direct sellers) need to find ways to engage their prospects/customers/clients where they are at already.
In V. Frankl’s “Man’s Search for Meaning”, he comments on this very idea. Instead of trying to drag, coerce or force people into your worldview, you need to meet them where they are, introduce them to yoru world view and continue to invite them to take the next step in doing business with you.
Gone are the days of hitting people over the head with the “my company is better than the rest” diatribe. There’s far too many voices beating their chests with the same message now. People are far more savvy then they were even just a few decades ago – and they KNOW that you need them. Without them, you fail to exist.
So make it easy for them to connect and get excited about what you have to offer in the world. Don’t just tell them what to think (it doesnt work anymore anyway). Tell them you care about what they’re ALREADY thinking, and help them share it with you!
How do you do that?
Several famous marketers say "join the conversation alredy going on in your prospect's mind". In this case, it means get involved where they'er already 'hanging out'. In the past, that was at home parties, sales meetings and other "get togethers" in person, in real time.
Now, it means there's a 24 hour GLOBAL get together going on in social media networks around the world. You need to establish a presence, maybe even 'lurk' a bit to monitor the conversation. You don't want to be seen as one of those nerdy wannabes that hangout near the watercooler and interject completely irrelevant stuff just to sound like they're part of the group. You have to BE part of the group. Undertand the dynamic, and then get involved. Ask questions, participate and provide VALUE to those that are talking about you.
That doesn't mean being on every social network on the planet. It DOES mean starting somewhere, building a reputation and growing your audience by being part of the audience from time to time. Oprah rarely interacts with her followers on twitter - but then she doesn't follow very many herself. She can't possibly know what the pulse of her audience is if she's not interacting (note: she DOES have other people on her team that DO interact on twitter. SMART Strategy on her part).
If Oprah can do it, so can any Direct Sales company (or any other company) out there. Get involved in the brand you're creating, don't just hold it up like a shield. I believe it was the Spartans that said something abotu coming home with your shield held high or ON it.
Dying for the brand. What a concept! Being so committed that you're personally involved, passionately involved in the livelihoods you're creating for others. That kind of give provides a LOT more in return for you to take.
Plan your entry into social media - but get there, sooner rather than later.
Advertising Your Home Party Business
Direct Sales coach and trainer, Lisa Robbin Young shares a personal experience from her direct sales career about the right and wrong ways to use advertising in your home party business.
This is an excerpt from her upcoming STAR Power 12 month leadership coaching program, designed for direct sales leaders in the home party industry. Regsitration ends May 19. Learn more at http://www.homepartysolution.com/starpower
This is an excerpt from her upcoming STAR Power 12 month leadership coaching program, designed for direct sales leaders in the home party industry. Regsitration ends May 19. Learn more at http://www.homepartysolution.com/starpower
The Single Most Important factor in Direct Sales Success
Can you guess what it is?
In Direct Sales, your mindset is CRUCIAL to your success. If you're ready to grow the power of your network and create some momentum around the product that is you, take a peek at the STAR Power direct sales leadership program.
In Direct Sales, your mindset is CRUCIAL to your success. If you're ready to grow the power of your network and create some momentum around the product that is you, take a peek at the STAR Power direct sales leadership program.
Direct Sales Coach Lisa Young: STAR Power 12 month program overview
Here's video one. Yes, my head looks like a pyramid. Just close your eyes and imagine me looking sharp in my green satin blouse speaking from a stage surrounded with beautiful flowers. hee hee.
The back poster in the background says "Share with PASSION" - it was a gift from Joe Irons, Director of Marketing from The Body Shop.
Register for the STAR Power 12 month direct sales coaching program for leaders. Hurry, because the kickoff call is May 19.
The back poster in the background says "Share with PASSION" - it was a gift from Joe Irons, Director of Marketing from The Body Shop.
Register for the STAR Power 12 month direct sales coaching program for leaders. Hurry, because the kickoff call is May 19.
Direct Sales IS a REAL Business
2-for-1 today: Personal Branding tip and Direct Sales wisdom:
I got a call at my home today from an owner of a direct sales company.
It's not every day I get calls like this, and it's even RARER that they call me at home.
But I had to share this.
This guy was very polite and expressed that he had been following some of my blog posts and was excited to see someone who understands that direct sales is a real business.
FINALLY! Someone that gets it.
I nearly jumped out of my skin with delight - because his company does so many things RIGHT for their consultants and customers. And here he was talking to me about helping his consultants achieve more and be better prepared for doing the business of direct sales.
If only the rest of the world would take notes...
So many of us in direct sales join a business opportunity not because we're going to mke a million dollars - although some do - but because we're looking for "something more".
Maybe it's a little more money.
Maybe it's a litle more time freedom.
Maybe it's a little more "me time" or time out of the house.
There are probably as many reasons as there are consultants in the world. But somewhere along the way, a good portion of us find ourselves in the position of growing a real business - with an organization that looks to us for support, training, expertise - and we're sitting there scratching our heads trying to figure out how we got there.
How many times have you heard a new leader say "I don't know what I did, I just got lucky, I guess."?
Baloney. There may bave been some luck - good timing, or great connections - involved, but in reality, that leader started to LEAD in some way. They set an example for their team to follow. If they don't they don't stay leaders for long.
And I've talked about that phenomenon before. There are people that promote by default. They just happen to have enough people on their team, and hit the goals to achieve leadership and there they are. But they rarely last.
Real leaders develop systems, stay in contact, and connect with their clients and team. They build real businesses with income forecasts, budgets and other "unglamorous" things that are required to be successful in business. Some of them even have assistants.
In fact, my new STAR Power program isn't about the "three r's of direct sales" - Booking, Selling, and Recruiting.
(I know they don't all start with 'R', work with me here!) It's a leadership program designed for established leaders (or very determined aspiring leaders) that want to grow their business like a real business. We're covering advanced business topics - like advertising, social media, and outsourcing/automation. We're also talking about the more mundane, but necessary topics like target marketing, business plans, and cash flow projections.
These are the core compenents of running a REAL business. You have to have the basics mastered before you can become competent in the advanced strategies. There are hundreds of coaches that train on the 3R's - and they do it very well.
But I haven't seen anyone yet that's willing to take these leaders by the hand and train them on the power (and responsibility) of running a business.
I hear more consultants than I care to count complain that their home office isn't responsive to their needs to help them grow their business. But how many of them are taking the time to realize that, like it or not, Direct Sales is a REAL Business - and owners are not running a non-profit organiation. They are here to turn a profit.
If we treated our personal direct sales business like a real business, perhaps we'd be taken more seriously at the home office.
Harsh words, I know. But I calls 'em as I sees 'em.
It means that instead of recruiting 75 new people this year, and having 50 of them drop out, perhaps you should focus on giving your best to 25 strong candidates - and only lose 5. Focus on quality AND quantity, instead of one or the other.
That also means some of the onus falls back to the home office to provide real business training for leaders. It means they have to stop dumbing down everything so that "anyone can do this". We all know that direct sales is simple, but it ain't easy. Raise the bar and expect more from your business builders. Reward consistency, not just high achievers. I've seen too many instances where today's high achievers are tomorrow's burnouts - or worse, they leave the company altogether. Create incentives that recognize month-to-month performance, because that's how REAL businesses are built.
And this owner that called me - he totally gets it. He also knows, as I do, that transitions like that take time, may requie a culture shift, and don't always come easy.
But with an aging population of direct sellers, we need to be demonstrating to these younger recruits that we're serious about growing real businesses with lasting income. They're savvy - and embrace technology. With all the information at our fingertips, it's easier than ever to know what's genuine and what's a 'snow job' whe we're touting the glories of our companies.
And remember this key: people join YOU, not your opportunity. They have to know you, like you and trust you well enough to believe you're not going to steer them wrong. Otherwise, they could easily sign up with another rep or another company altogether. We need to be promoting ourselves as much as (if not more than) we promote our company, products, or opportunity. With the flood of information, and transparency - it's also harder to know who to trust. When you establish yourself as an expert, people are more easily drawn to trust you.
It worked with this company owner. It will work for you.
I got a call at my home today from an owner of a direct sales company.
It's not every day I get calls like this, and it's even RARER that they call me at home.
But I had to share this.
This guy was very polite and expressed that he had been following some of my blog posts and was excited to see someone who understands that direct sales is a real business.
FINALLY! Someone that gets it.
I nearly jumped out of my skin with delight - because his company does so many things RIGHT for their consultants and customers. And here he was talking to me about helping his consultants achieve more and be better prepared for doing the business of direct sales.
If only the rest of the world would take notes...
So many of us in direct sales join a business opportunity not because we're going to mke a million dollars - although some do - but because we're looking for "something more".
Maybe it's a little more money.
Maybe it's a litle more time freedom.
Maybe it's a little more "me time" or time out of the house.
There are probably as many reasons as there are consultants in the world. But somewhere along the way, a good portion of us find ourselves in the position of growing a real business - with an organization that looks to us for support, training, expertise - and we're sitting there scratching our heads trying to figure out how we got there.
How many times have you heard a new leader say "I don't know what I did, I just got lucky, I guess."?
Baloney. There may bave been some luck - good timing, or great connections - involved, but in reality, that leader started to LEAD in some way. They set an example for their team to follow. If they don't they don't stay leaders for long.
And I've talked about that phenomenon before. There are people that promote by default. They just happen to have enough people on their team, and hit the goals to achieve leadership and there they are. But they rarely last.
Real leaders develop systems, stay in contact, and connect with their clients and team. They build real businesses with income forecasts, budgets and other "unglamorous" things that are required to be successful in business. Some of them even have assistants.
In fact, my new STAR Power program isn't about the "three r's of direct sales" - Booking, Selling, and Recruiting.
(I know they don't all start with 'R', work with me here!) It's a leadership program designed for established leaders (or very determined aspiring leaders) that want to grow their business like a real business. We're covering advanced business topics - like advertising, social media, and outsourcing/automation. We're also talking about the more mundane, but necessary topics like target marketing, business plans, and cash flow projections.
These are the core compenents of running a REAL business. You have to have the basics mastered before you can become competent in the advanced strategies. There are hundreds of coaches that train on the 3R's - and they do it very well.
But I haven't seen anyone yet that's willing to take these leaders by the hand and train them on the power (and responsibility) of running a business.
I hear more consultants than I care to count complain that their home office isn't responsive to their needs to help them grow their business. But how many of them are taking the time to realize that, like it or not, Direct Sales is a REAL Business - and owners are not running a non-profit organiation. They are here to turn a profit.
If we treated our personal direct sales business like a real business, perhaps we'd be taken more seriously at the home office.
Harsh words, I know. But I calls 'em as I sees 'em.
It means that instead of recruiting 75 new people this year, and having 50 of them drop out, perhaps you should focus on giving your best to 25 strong candidates - and only lose 5. Focus on quality AND quantity, instead of one or the other.
That also means some of the onus falls back to the home office to provide real business training for leaders. It means they have to stop dumbing down everything so that "anyone can do this". We all know that direct sales is simple, but it ain't easy. Raise the bar and expect more from your business builders. Reward consistency, not just high achievers. I've seen too many instances where today's high achievers are tomorrow's burnouts - or worse, they leave the company altogether. Create incentives that recognize month-to-month performance, because that's how REAL businesses are built.
And this owner that called me - he totally gets it. He also knows, as I do, that transitions like that take time, may requie a culture shift, and don't always come easy.
But with an aging population of direct sellers, we need to be demonstrating to these younger recruits that we're serious about growing real businesses with lasting income. They're savvy - and embrace technology. With all the information at our fingertips, it's easier than ever to know what's genuine and what's a 'snow job' whe we're touting the glories of our companies.
And remember this key: people join YOU, not your opportunity. They have to know you, like you and trust you well enough to believe you're not going to steer them wrong. Otherwise, they could easily sign up with another rep or another company altogether. We need to be promoting ourselves as much as (if not more than) we promote our company, products, or opportunity. With the flood of information, and transparency - it's also harder to know who to trust. When you establish yourself as an expert, people are more easily drawn to trust you.
It worked with this company owner. It will work for you.
The Body Shop At Home US Closes April 30
As a Direct Sales Coach and trainer, I've always wondered about the other coaches that don't tell you what company they were with.
They'll tell you they earned fancy trips, shiny cars, and made a ton of cash climbing the leadership ranks, but the never tell you what company they were with.
When I became a coach, just over a year ago, I vowed I wouldn't use my business as a recruiting platform, so while I didn't advertise any of the companies I worked with, I also didn't really HIDE it from anyone.
I've ben involved in numerous direct selling/network marketing companies in the past decade. None of them made me feel more at home than the At Home division of The Body Shop. I loved the values, the products and the people. They quickly became "my primary bizop".
And today, regrettably, they have announced a closing of the doors in the US. Amid some other scandalous issues from late last year, we are all elft wondering the root of the decision, but ultimately, At Home was not a profitable, sustainable channel for The Body Shop brand.
People have already started coming out of the woodwork asking me if I'm going to be okay, which makes me chuckle.
Of COURSE I'm going to be okay. I never promoted The Body Shop in the first place.
I always branded ME.
This isn't the first company I've been a consultant for that's closed it's doors (it's the third, actually), yet, of all the companies I've worked with, they're the ONLY ones that I've seen do it RIGHT.
A stream of correspondence showered the morning. With REAL commitments to help us transition to other opportunities, plus increases in pay, bonuses, etc for teh remainder of the term.
For some of these women, TBSAH was the ONLY source of income for their families. Many were earning $10,000 or more each month - and in 6 weeks that will all be gone.
The Body Shop has done a outstanding job of making a bad situation more tolerable. They are proactively seeking ways for us to transition to other opportunities, even offering up priority consideration for employment within TBSAH stores.
It's never a good thing to have to lop off a division of a company - in terms of headcount, morale, etc. But if it has to be done, The Body Shop is a good example of the right way to do it.
And I'm not the least bit concerned about my direction now that TBSAH is closing in the US. I'll just turn back to the sme methods I've been teaching in Home Party Solution. I know offers will come out of the woodwork, so it's just a matter of finding the right fit for me.
And I never promoted my direct sales company - I took my own advice. I am the most important produt my company has to offer, so I promote myself first. That's why people know me, instead of the face cream, candles, toys, kitchen gadgets, jewelry, and other products I used to sell.
Now more than ever, I maintain that you NEED to be creating a name for yourself first - your product second and your company third. Most companies don't like that idea.
Who cares!?! It's YOUR life that's at stake here. Build it to YOUR benefit.
They'll tell you they earned fancy trips, shiny cars, and made a ton of cash climbing the leadership ranks, but the never tell you what company they were with.
When I became a coach, just over a year ago, I vowed I wouldn't use my business as a recruiting platform, so while I didn't advertise any of the companies I worked with, I also didn't really HIDE it from anyone.
I've ben involved in numerous direct selling/network marketing companies in the past decade. None of them made me feel more at home than the At Home division of The Body Shop. I loved the values, the products and the people. They quickly became "my primary bizop".
And today, regrettably, they have announced a closing of the doors in the US. Amid some other scandalous issues from late last year, we are all elft wondering the root of the decision, but ultimately, At Home was not a profitable, sustainable channel for The Body Shop brand.
People have already started coming out of the woodwork asking me if I'm going to be okay, which makes me chuckle.
Of COURSE I'm going to be okay. I never promoted The Body Shop in the first place.
I always branded ME.
This isn't the first company I've been a consultant for that's closed it's doors (it's the third, actually), yet, of all the companies I've worked with, they're the ONLY ones that I've seen do it RIGHT.
A stream of correspondence showered the morning. With REAL commitments to help us transition to other opportunities, plus increases in pay, bonuses, etc for teh remainder of the term.
For some of these women, TBSAH was the ONLY source of income for their families. Many were earning $10,000 or more each month - and in 6 weeks that will all be gone.
The Body Shop has done a outstanding job of making a bad situation more tolerable. They are proactively seeking ways for us to transition to other opportunities, even offering up priority consideration for employment within TBSAH stores.
It's never a good thing to have to lop off a division of a company - in terms of headcount, morale, etc. But if it has to be done, The Body Shop is a good example of the right way to do it.
And I'm not the least bit concerned about my direction now that TBSAH is closing in the US. I'll just turn back to the sme methods I've been teaching in Home Party Solution. I know offers will come out of the woodwork, so it's just a matter of finding the right fit for me.
And I never promoted my direct sales company - I took my own advice. I am the most important produt my company has to offer, so I promote myself first. That's why people know me, instead of the face cream, candles, toys, kitchen gadgets, jewelry, and other products I used to sell.
Now more than ever, I maintain that you NEED to be creating a name for yourself first - your product second and your company third. Most companies don't like that idea.
Who cares!?! It's YOUR life that's at stake here. Build it to YOUR benefit.
Direct Sales Success: The Time for Social Networking is Now
Sitting at my desk yesterday, I checked my tweetdeck and found a message from one of my tweeps saying that social networking is the future of direct sales. I tweeted back saying that, in fact, social networking is the now of direct sales. We had a great conversation discussing the various issues that consultants face trying to make a name for themselves in a wired world.
If you're not familiar with social media sites like myspace, facebook and twitter, chances are good you didn't understand half of that last paragraph.
That's no excuse to stick your head in the sand. Social media is here to stay, and it's a powerful tool to add to your direct sales arsenal. Professional marketers are reaping the rewards of online connections on a daily basis. They've taken the art of networking and building relationships from the offline world to the online marketplace, and cashed in on the revolution in the process.
But before you jump headlong into social networking, there are a few concepts you need to understand. These caveats can turn your social networking into a lead generating machine - filling your inbox with leads and building your business in unprecedented ways.
1. Social Networks are not a PITCH fest. You can't just join a social network and start telling everyone how great your company or product is. That's the online equivalent of shoving your business card into the hand of everyone you meet without saying 'hello' first. Depending on the social networking site, you can share about yourself, your company and your products to varying degrees - but only AFTER you've established a relationship with your audience. Who is your audience? Anyone that's following your page, signing up for your updates or trying to become your 'friend'. The term is different for each service, but the idea is the same: people want to get to know who you are before they want to learn about what you have to offer.
Just like in the offline world, you need to show people you can provide value to them before you start talking about your company. Social networks essentially force you to share a bit of yourself with your audience before they're going to respond to any offers you try to make. If you don't, you'll come off as pushy and people will stop following you - or worse yet, block you all together.
2. Brand YOURSELF First. It bears repeating, so I'll say it again. YOU are the most important product your company has to offer. Successful consultants make a name for themselves even while they're promoting their company's products and services. It is up to YOU to promote yourself. No direct selling company is going to do that for you.
People have to know, like and trust you before they're going to do business with you. It is your responsibility to provide the information your audience needs in order to build a lasting relationship with you.
Let your company handle the marketing and promotions for your products and services. You need to worry about making a name for yourself. Your company can't stop you from creating your own website that is about your interests and your life. They CAN (and usually will) prevent you from using their product names, descriptions, images and trademarks. They have every right to do so. It dillutes their brand. It's also a sign of a weak marketer to tie your marketing back to your company.
Some companies will let you use their content - but what happens if you leave that company? You have to start all over again. If instead, you promote yourself, then no matter what company you're with, you've got a consistent social networking strategy that's built around your reputation, rather than your company.
3. Don't Do It All In One Day. Social networking sites are designed to be "sticky". That means once you visit, they entice you with lots of content to suck up your time and get you to stick around for a while. You need to view social networking as a piece of your marketing puzzle - not the whole enchilada. Start with ONE site that appeals to you. Strictly limit your time, and be sure you're using it for networking activities, not for mindlessly playing games or adding "apps" to enhance your page. Your time is best spent building and creating relationships with others on the site - not playing games with the computer!
Once you've "gotten the hang of it", then consider other social networks, but realize that each site requires a bit of time to navigate and participate. Don't commit to more groups than yuo can handle. Only YOU know your time availability and building marketing relationships takes time.
4. Social Networking Is Like Offline Networking. Just like offline networking groups, they are NOT the backbone of your direct sales business. Booking, selling and recruitng are the staples of a successful home party business, and nothing will ever replace that. Social Networking is a marketing tool that you can use to move beyond yuor family and friends and reach out to a global audience. The global audience can help establish yourself as an expert, but it doesn't always help you get a show on your calendar for next week. Like all networking functions, building relationships takes time.
Social Networking should be considered as a way to enhance your traditional book, sell, recruit activities - not as a replacement for them. Just like you wouldn't rely only on live networking events to build your business, neither should you rely completely on online social media to build your business. The Internet can speed the relationship building process along, but it still takes time.
5. Don't Expect Miracles. You get what you give in social media. The more you interact, the more people will interact with you. The better content you provide, the more people will want to hear from you. Unless you're already a celebrity, don't expect that you'll have overnight success with any social networking site. Miracles do happen, but to expect them would be social networking suicide. Often times, you can connect with other direct sellers, coaches, and trainers, and find yourself hob-knobbing with the rich and famous - people you might not otherwise have ever met - through social media. But this should not be your expectation or purpose for social networking. Connect and share with "regular Joes" like you and watch your network grow.
Twitter is a great place to start. With only 140 characters, there are no lengthy pages to read, and it's easy to start. Plus it can work with some other social media sites as well. If you sign up, follow me and I'll follow you!
6. Stories Sell. The best way to connect and build an online network is to share yourself - via stories and videos - and let your audience know more about you. A word of caution, though: don't share anything you wouldn't feel comfortable having the whole world know. This is the internet, after all, and anyone could see those pictures, that video or hear those stories. Transparency is one of the great qualities of the internet - it's also one of the curses. It only takes a second for everyone in your social network (friends, family and business associates) to see those compromising details. Be sure you're sharing quality information that builds your reputation.
It can be challenging for direct sellers that aren't very tech savvy to get connected to social networks. Take your time, start slowly, and do what you can. Don't get sucked into the time vacuum, and get distracted from your core business building activities. Great business relationships can be cultivated online, but you need to enter the fray in a controlled and meaningful way. Otherwise, you're just spinning in circles.
===========
WANT TO USE THIS ARTICLE FOR FREE IN PRINT OR ONLINE?
You may, so long as you do not alter it and include the following information (with active links as appropriate):
Lisa Robbin Young teaches direct sellers how to be a superstar in the eyes of their customers. As Founder of HomePartySolution.com, Ms. Young has garnered the attention of thousands of direct sales consultants around the world looking for ways to integrate online marketing with their offline businesses to achieve greater success while working from home. Sign up for her free ezine at HomePartySolution.com
If you're not familiar with social media sites like myspace, facebook and twitter, chances are good you didn't understand half of that last paragraph.
That's no excuse to stick your head in the sand. Social media is here to stay, and it's a powerful tool to add to your direct sales arsenal. Professional marketers are reaping the rewards of online connections on a daily basis. They've taken the art of networking and building relationships from the offline world to the online marketplace, and cashed in on the revolution in the process.
But before you jump headlong into social networking, there are a few concepts you need to understand. These caveats can turn your social networking into a lead generating machine - filling your inbox with leads and building your business in unprecedented ways.
1. Social Networks are not a PITCH fest. You can't just join a social network and start telling everyone how great your company or product is. That's the online equivalent of shoving your business card into the hand of everyone you meet without saying 'hello' first. Depending on the social networking site, you can share about yourself, your company and your products to varying degrees - but only AFTER you've established a relationship with your audience. Who is your audience? Anyone that's following your page, signing up for your updates or trying to become your 'friend'. The term is different for each service, but the idea is the same: people want to get to know who you are before they want to learn about what you have to offer.
Just like in the offline world, you need to show people you can provide value to them before you start talking about your company. Social networks essentially force you to share a bit of yourself with your audience before they're going to respond to any offers you try to make. If you don't, you'll come off as pushy and people will stop following you - or worse yet, block you all together.
2. Brand YOURSELF First. It bears repeating, so I'll say it again. YOU are the most important product your company has to offer. Successful consultants make a name for themselves even while they're promoting their company's products and services. It is up to YOU to promote yourself. No direct selling company is going to do that for you.
People have to know, like and trust you before they're going to do business with you. It is your responsibility to provide the information your audience needs in order to build a lasting relationship with you.
Let your company handle the marketing and promotions for your products and services. You need to worry about making a name for yourself. Your company can't stop you from creating your own website that is about your interests and your life. They CAN (and usually will) prevent you from using their product names, descriptions, images and trademarks. They have every right to do so. It dillutes their brand. It's also a sign of a weak marketer to tie your marketing back to your company.
Some companies will let you use their content - but what happens if you leave that company? You have to start all over again. If instead, you promote yourself, then no matter what company you're with, you've got a consistent social networking strategy that's built around your reputation, rather than your company.
3. Don't Do It All In One Day. Social networking sites are designed to be "sticky". That means once you visit, they entice you with lots of content to suck up your time and get you to stick around for a while. You need to view social networking as a piece of your marketing puzzle - not the whole enchilada. Start with ONE site that appeals to you. Strictly limit your time, and be sure you're using it for networking activities, not for mindlessly playing games or adding "apps" to enhance your page. Your time is best spent building and creating relationships with others on the site - not playing games with the computer!
Once you've "gotten the hang of it", then consider other social networks, but realize that each site requires a bit of time to navigate and participate. Don't commit to more groups than yuo can handle. Only YOU know your time availability and building marketing relationships takes time.
4. Social Networking Is Like Offline Networking. Just like offline networking groups, they are NOT the backbone of your direct sales business. Booking, selling and recruitng are the staples of a successful home party business, and nothing will ever replace that. Social Networking is a marketing tool that you can use to move beyond yuor family and friends and reach out to a global audience. The global audience can help establish yourself as an expert, but it doesn't always help you get a show on your calendar for next week. Like all networking functions, building relationships takes time.
Social Networking should be considered as a way to enhance your traditional book, sell, recruit activities - not as a replacement for them. Just like you wouldn't rely only on live networking events to build your business, neither should you rely completely on online social media to build your business. The Internet can speed the relationship building process along, but it still takes time.
5. Don't Expect Miracles. You get what you give in social media. The more you interact, the more people will interact with you. The better content you provide, the more people will want to hear from you. Unless you're already a celebrity, don't expect that you'll have overnight success with any social networking site. Miracles do happen, but to expect them would be social networking suicide. Often times, you can connect with other direct sellers, coaches, and trainers, and find yourself hob-knobbing with the rich and famous - people you might not otherwise have ever met - through social media. But this should not be your expectation or purpose for social networking. Connect and share with "regular Joes" like you and watch your network grow.
Twitter is a great place to start. With only 140 characters, there are no lengthy pages to read, and it's easy to start. Plus it can work with some other social media sites as well. If you sign up, follow me and I'll follow you!
6. Stories Sell. The best way to connect and build an online network is to share yourself - via stories and videos - and let your audience know more about you. A word of caution, though: don't share anything you wouldn't feel comfortable having the whole world know. This is the internet, after all, and anyone could see those pictures, that video or hear those stories. Transparency is one of the great qualities of the internet - it's also one of the curses. It only takes a second for everyone in your social network (friends, family and business associates) to see those compromising details. Be sure you're sharing quality information that builds your reputation.
It can be challenging for direct sellers that aren't very tech savvy to get connected to social networks. Take your time, start slowly, and do what you can. Don't get sucked into the time vacuum, and get distracted from your core business building activities. Great business relationships can be cultivated online, but you need to enter the fray in a controlled and meaningful way. Otherwise, you're just spinning in circles.
===========
WANT TO USE THIS ARTICLE FOR FREE IN PRINT OR ONLINE?
You may, so long as you do not alter it and include the following information (with active links as appropriate):
Lisa Robbin Young teaches direct sellers how to be a superstar in the eyes of their customers. As Founder of HomePartySolution.com, Ms. Young has garnered the attention of thousands of direct sales consultants around the world looking for ways to integrate online marketing with their offline businesses to achieve greater success while working from home. Sign up for her free ezine at HomePartySolution.com
Clue#7: Creating a Crack Addiction
I've been toying with the idea that in order to be successful in business, you have to create a loyal following that goes beyond "customer satisfaction" and even a bit past "customer loyalty".
I call it "customer crack addiction".
Now, I mean this in the nicest possible way, with no offense to any crackheads that might be reading my post.
I examined other possible ideas and concepts. I've read Jeffrey Gitomer's book, "Customer Satisfaction is Worthless, Customer Loyalty is Priceless", and I agree with so much of what he writes.
At one point he draws the comparison to a marriage. Would you want your spouse to be "satisfied" or "loyal"?
Great analogy. But I think there's another level: "Addicted"
In my mind, I want my spouse to be addicted to me. He can't get enough of me. Would do anything to be close to me. I might draw the line at being obsessed with having me, but I think you get the idea.
The Bible tells husbands to love their wives as Christ loved the church. In my mind, that means be willing to die for me. To lay down his life in order to save me.
Periodically, I ask my husband if he's willing to take a bullet, or give up a kidney for me.
I'm still working on getting him "trained". Hee hee.
But in business, you I believe you CAN create an addiction to your products and services. Before I share that wih you, though, let's take a look at the desired results:
Crack/Cocaine is a nervous system stimulant. It affects the brain, and leaves you in a temporary state of euphoria. Essentially, you feel SO GOOD while you're "high" on the drug that you lose touch with the problems and issues of your reality. I heard Tony Robbins explain it in his Personal Power series of 20 years ago. In basic terms, you are feeling immense pleasure and absolutely no pain while you are under the influence of the drug. You have no inhibitions, no fears, no doubts, worries. Nothing negative exists in this world.
NO WONDER people become drug addicts!
And how does the pusher work?
He gives you a taste for free. You might remember the commercals that ran in the late 80's/early 90's with the kid who was just supposed to give the 'stuff' away. Then when his friends came back - "THAT'S When I start charging?" said the kid.
Before this story takes a dark turn, let's bring it back to my business analogy.
We've all seen the thousans upon thousands of 'freebies' that are given away every singleday on the internet. Put you email address here and we'll give you our free ezine, our free special report, our free tip of the week, our free piece of day old limburger cheese...
I'm kidding about the cheese.
But you get the idea. Everyone's offering something for free to get you to give up your precious contact information so that they can barrage you with emails about the latest and greatest thing they want to sell you.
Here's where I start to huff and puff. I'm blowing the house down, folks.
I've built my newsletter over the past year to a sizeable audience. Thousands of you read my work every week. I'm humbled by that. And I don't charge a penny for it - and never will as far as I can tell. As long as email is free, my newsletter will be too.
But like cocaine, once you develop a tolerance for it, you need more and more to get the high you first did. And no, I've never done drugs, just so we're clear on that. I'm a just say no girl. If anything, chocolate is my drug of choice!
So you, as a consumer, have grown immune to the "click here for your free report" type marketing. And that's GOOD news for you.
Because it means we as sales people have to raise the bar and give you more value.
As far as I'm concerned, I want your business. I want to make millions and millions of dollars off my customers for decades to come. I want to create a crack addiction with you. I want you to be so excited about the products and services that I offer that you don't even blink an eye about opening your wallet to "get the goods" from me.
But like a drug addiction, you're not paying big coin for regurgitated crap. I'm not selling you baking soda or powdered sugar. This is a powerful, mind expanding, state altering product. Once you've tried it, you'll never go back to the way you were. It's not possible. You will have changed in your very core. You will be SO different because you will know things you may not have known before. You'll be so CLEAR on your mission and passion in your life, that you'll know what to do and how to take action.
But like any good "pusher" you first have to get a sample...
Some of you are giving some great guesses. Tell your friends to join in the fun, there's still time! The big announcement is tonight at 7pm. Post your guesses here, and watch this blog for more clues throughout the day!
I call it "customer crack addiction".
Now, I mean this in the nicest possible way, with no offense to any crackheads that might be reading my post.
I examined other possible ideas and concepts. I've read Jeffrey Gitomer's book, "Customer Satisfaction is Worthless, Customer Loyalty is Priceless", and I agree with so much of what he writes.
At one point he draws the comparison to a marriage. Would you want your spouse to be "satisfied" or "loyal"?
Great analogy. But I think there's another level: "Addicted"
In my mind, I want my spouse to be addicted to me. He can't get enough of me. Would do anything to be close to me. I might draw the line at being obsessed with having me, but I think you get the idea.
The Bible tells husbands to love their wives as Christ loved the church. In my mind, that means be willing to die for me. To lay down his life in order to save me.
Periodically, I ask my husband if he's willing to take a bullet, or give up a kidney for me.
I'm still working on getting him "trained". Hee hee.
But in business, you I believe you CAN create an addiction to your products and services. Before I share that wih you, though, let's take a look at the desired results:
Crack/Cocaine is a nervous system stimulant. It affects the brain, and leaves you in a temporary state of euphoria. Essentially, you feel SO GOOD while you're "high" on the drug that you lose touch with the problems and issues of your reality. I heard Tony Robbins explain it in his Personal Power series of 20 years ago. In basic terms, you are feeling immense pleasure and absolutely no pain while you are under the influence of the drug. You have no inhibitions, no fears, no doubts, worries. Nothing negative exists in this world.
NO WONDER people become drug addicts!
And how does the pusher work?
He gives you a taste for free. You might remember the commercals that ran in the late 80's/early 90's with the kid who was just supposed to give the 'stuff' away. Then when his friends came back - "THAT'S When I start charging?" said the kid.
Before this story takes a dark turn, let's bring it back to my business analogy.
We've all seen the thousans upon thousands of 'freebies' that are given away every singleday on the internet. Put you email address here and we'll give you our free ezine, our free special report, our free tip of the week, our free piece of day old limburger cheese...
I'm kidding about the cheese.
But you get the idea. Everyone's offering something for free to get you to give up your precious contact information so that they can barrage you with emails about the latest and greatest thing they want to sell you.
Here's where I start to huff and puff. I'm blowing the house down, folks.
I've built my newsletter over the past year to a sizeable audience. Thousands of you read my work every week. I'm humbled by that. And I don't charge a penny for it - and never will as far as I can tell. As long as email is free, my newsletter will be too.
But like cocaine, once you develop a tolerance for it, you need more and more to get the high you first did. And no, I've never done drugs, just so we're clear on that. I'm a just say no girl. If anything, chocolate is my drug of choice!
So you, as a consumer, have grown immune to the "click here for your free report" type marketing. And that's GOOD news for you.
Because it means we as sales people have to raise the bar and give you more value.
As far as I'm concerned, I want your business. I want to make millions and millions of dollars off my customers for decades to come. I want to create a crack addiction with you. I want you to be so excited about the products and services that I offer that you don't even blink an eye about opening your wallet to "get the goods" from me.
But like a drug addiction, you're not paying big coin for regurgitated crap. I'm not selling you baking soda or powdered sugar. This is a powerful, mind expanding, state altering product. Once you've tried it, you'll never go back to the way you were. It's not possible. You will have changed in your very core. You will be SO different because you will know things you may not have known before. You'll be so CLEAR on your mission and passion in your life, that you'll know what to do and how to take action.
But like any good "pusher" you first have to get a sample...
Some of you are giving some great guesses. Tell your friends to join in the fun, there's still time! The big announcement is tonight at 7pm. Post your guesses here, and watch this blog for more clues throughout the day!
Real Life Strikes Again: How NOT To Brand Yourself
My oldest is a handful.
That's being polite.
He's struggled with ADHD and behavioral issues since he was small. Until last year, his issues were somewhat controlled with medication, although I never felt convinced that his Psych was really conerned about his well being, and more concerned with the drug mill he was pushing people through.
I think my suspicions were confirmed today.
I'll skip the intervening time and many personal details, but since my Mother's death in March, my son has not been the usual cantankerous kid we've grown to love. He's been more voilent, reclusive, explosive and difficult to manage. Add to that a request to return to regular school (I homeschooled last year), and it's been a combustible year, to say the least.
A school incident got us involved with our local Community Mental Health department in an effort to get him expedted service and treatment for what is looking more and mor like it might be high functional autism or a form of Asperger's, due to some new symptoms now presenting. So an appointment was made for a "full psych eval" to be held today.
Here's where I scratch my head in disbelief. the exact same psychiatrist that had been seeing him once a month for 3 years walked out, called him by the wrong name (again), and ushered us into an office.
Once in the office, my oldest said "Hey, I Know you!" and the Doctor put his oot in it royally.
"No, I don't think we've ever met before."
"Oh yes, you have!" I corrected him. "You were his psych for 3 years at a different facility!"
"Oh. Well, what brings you in today?"
Other than that inane question, he listened to my tale of increasing violence and disturbing symptoms, copied down a few notes, then asked me the following EVEN MORE STUPID question
"If we could give a magic pill, what would you want it to do?"
Are you kidding me? You saw this kid for 3 years and have no recollection of him, and you want me to diagnose him?
I said, "frankly, I see medication as a last resort, and would like to find out what the underlying issues are before we stuff drugs down his throat. I mean, if he needs drugs, fine, but if the drugs end up masking what the real issue is, then that's not fine."
He asked my son 4 questions, handed me 2 scrips and recommended I schedule an appointment with the child psychiatrist at his next available opening.
"He has more symptoms than I feel comfortable with. I'm calling in the specialist."
My question is, why wasn't I seeing the child psych in the first place?
At that moment, his NP came around the corner, and my son said "Hey! I know you too!"
The NP said "No, I don't think you do."
"UGH! Yes you do! You work with that Doctor and he was my kid's doc for 3 frickin' years!"
Can you tell I wasn't too happy?
Let us break this down so that you NEVER EVER have this happen in your business.
1. Know your client's name. Maybe he read it wrong, but once I corrected him, the doctor STILL called my child by his last name, instead of his first name. Come on! This is common courtesy, folks.
2. Make eye contact. This sounds like a no brainer, but for the entire time we were in the office, I counted a whopping 1:22 of total eye contact, give ot take a few seconds. If he had an intensive questionnaire or computer form he needed to complete, I would have been a touch more understanding. I've had more compassionate, friendly service at WalMart's self-service lane!
3. Spend time understanding your customer. You don't diagnose in 15 minutes, when one of the 4 questions you ask is botu a magic pill! That shows you're not trying to understand anything - you want them to do the work for you. In business, you need to make connections with your customers. In this country, medicine is very obviously a business. this guy didn't even try to make a connection with either of us.
4. Solve the client's problem - or get out of the way so someone else can. He knew immediately that my son didn't belong under his care - yet instead of taking charge to ge me set up right away with the proper doctor, he pushed us out the door to seek help from the receptionist - who was conveniently not at her desk for 10 minutes. I stood in the hallway waiting patiently and silently for someone to return until that NP rounded the corner. Even HE didn't get me any help.
Perhaps I'm just a grumbling bumbling mom. But I was sore when I realized the very doctor I took issue with for 3 years was back as co-pilot of my child's psychiatric care.
You can bet my son's case manager will be hearing from me.
The real life marketing lesson? Take the time to care. Even within that small 15 minute window, there were plenty of opportunitied for that Doctor - or anyone in that office - to turn that situation around. And yet, NO ONE took the time to care. Don't let that be you. One good thing could have made this a POSTIVITE memorable experience.
Instead of a horrifyingly negative one.
That's being polite.
He's struggled with ADHD and behavioral issues since he was small. Until last year, his issues were somewhat controlled with medication, although I never felt convinced that his Psych was really conerned about his well being, and more concerned with the drug mill he was pushing people through.
I think my suspicions were confirmed today.
I'll skip the intervening time and many personal details, but since my Mother's death in March, my son has not been the usual cantankerous kid we've grown to love. He's been more voilent, reclusive, explosive and difficult to manage. Add to that a request to return to regular school (I homeschooled last year), and it's been a combustible year, to say the least.
A school incident got us involved with our local Community Mental Health department in an effort to get him expedted service and treatment for what is looking more and mor like it might be high functional autism or a form of Asperger's, due to some new symptoms now presenting. So an appointment was made for a "full psych eval" to be held today.
Here's where I scratch my head in disbelief. the exact same psychiatrist that had been seeing him once a month for 3 years walked out, called him by the wrong name (again), and ushered us into an office.
Once in the office, my oldest said "Hey, I Know you!" and the Doctor put his oot in it royally.
"No, I don't think we've ever met before."
"Oh yes, you have!" I corrected him. "You were his psych for 3 years at a different facility!"
"Oh. Well, what brings you in today?"
Other than that inane question, he listened to my tale of increasing violence and disturbing symptoms, copied down a few notes, then asked me the following EVEN MORE STUPID question
"If we could give a magic pill, what would you want it to do?"
Are you kidding me? You saw this kid for 3 years and have no recollection of him, and you want me to diagnose him?
I said, "frankly, I see medication as a last resort, and would like to find out what the underlying issues are before we stuff drugs down his throat. I mean, if he needs drugs, fine, but if the drugs end up masking what the real issue is, then that's not fine."
He asked my son 4 questions, handed me 2 scrips and recommended I schedule an appointment with the child psychiatrist at his next available opening.
"He has more symptoms than I feel comfortable with. I'm calling in the specialist."
My question is, why wasn't I seeing the child psych in the first place?
At that moment, his NP came around the corner, and my son said "Hey! I know you too!"
The NP said "No, I don't think you do."
"UGH! Yes you do! You work with that Doctor and he was my kid's doc for 3 frickin' years!"
Can you tell I wasn't too happy?
Let us break this down so that you NEVER EVER have this happen in your business.
1. Know your client's name. Maybe he read it wrong, but once I corrected him, the doctor STILL called my child by his last name, instead of his first name. Come on! This is common courtesy, folks.
2. Make eye contact. This sounds like a no brainer, but for the entire time we were in the office, I counted a whopping 1:22 of total eye contact, give ot take a few seconds. If he had an intensive questionnaire or computer form he needed to complete, I would have been a touch more understanding. I've had more compassionate, friendly service at WalMart's self-service lane!
3. Spend time understanding your customer. You don't diagnose in 15 minutes, when one of the 4 questions you ask is botu a magic pill! That shows you're not trying to understand anything - you want them to do the work for you. In business, you need to make connections with your customers. In this country, medicine is very obviously a business. this guy didn't even try to make a connection with either of us.
4. Solve the client's problem - or get out of the way so someone else can. He knew immediately that my son didn't belong under his care - yet instead of taking charge to ge me set up right away with the proper doctor, he pushed us out the door to seek help from the receptionist - who was conveniently not at her desk for 10 minutes. I stood in the hallway waiting patiently and silently for someone to return until that NP rounded the corner. Even HE didn't get me any help.
Perhaps I'm just a grumbling bumbling mom. But I was sore when I realized the very doctor I took issue with for 3 years was back as co-pilot of my child's psychiatric care.
You can bet my son's case manager will be hearing from me.
The real life marketing lesson? Take the time to care. Even within that small 15 minute window, there were plenty of opportunitied for that Doctor - or anyone in that office - to turn that situation around. And yet, NO ONE took the time to care. Don't let that be you. One good thing could have made this a POSTIVITE memorable experience.
Instead of a horrifyingly negative one.
Brand Yourself First: The Promo Video
So this is how I spent the last few hours of work yesterday and today. My new laptop comes stocked with Windows Movie Maker, so I thought I'd try my hand at it.
I still needed to convert the final video with Camtasia, but it turned out pretty spiffy. I'm working on a second, very similar version for my new website: brandyourselffirst.com. The idea is to take viral video to the home party market.
We'll see how it goes. Consider this the first draft!
I still needed to convert the final video with Camtasia, but it turned out pretty spiffy. I'm working on a second, very similar version for my new website: brandyourselffirst.com. The idea is to take viral video to the home party market.
We'll see how it goes. Consider this the first draft!
Personal Brand=Reputation
Thanks to twitter pal @emailcopywriter for leading me this blog post on personal branding.
I posted a response, but I also wanted to expand on it here:
Why do we have to extricate brand from reputation? A lot of what I teach is about establishing yourself as a value provider, hence your reputation is PART and PARCEL to your brand identity.
There are some great points in this post. I also believe strongly that throwing out the baby with the bath water, as it were, only makes the situation more problematic.
People who make themselves indespensible are not losing their jobs - they're making their own way. Even if companies collapse, they have other options they can pursue - thanks in part to positioning themseleves and having a great reputation for results.
Reputation=Brand=Reputation
You can't have one without the other.
In real life, when a person knows you by your reputation, that's how you are percieved. It is, in essence your brand. Do you want to be known as a self-centered egoist? That's your brand. You want to be known as a kind-hearted marshmallow? That's your brand.
Don't want to be known at all?
That's your brand
Trust me. The people who have developed a reputation for excellence and delivering results are rarely out of a job - and if they are it's by choice.
Employers clamor for people like that. People who are known for delivering the goods on time, under budget, with an amazing WOW factor.
In my opinion, your reputation is NOT separate from your brand, indeed it is the CORE of your brand. Everything I teach about personal branding centers on who you are, and what you're all about at the core of your being.
Reputation is not the only component of building a solid brand, but my mother ALWAYS equated McDonald's with a clean restroom and cheap eats when we were travelling as kids. It was part of their reputation. It was a core component of what endeared the brand to my mom.
Personal Branding isn't just about your smile, what you wear or having your face on a magazine. It's not just about your message. It's about CONGRUENCE between your reputation and your message, your image and your demeanor.
You can put on a great dress and have a great smile, but an airhead by any other name will be just as useless at a networking event as the one dressed in rags.
Personal Branding is NOT about creating a facade. It's about celebrating the best parts of the real you in a way that makes you marketable, in demand, and gives you back control over your business.
When I talk with Direct Sales reps, so often they focus so heavily on the product. I think in light of the recent company closures, it's safe to say that had those reps been focusing on building their own reputation in the market place (their brand), they would not be in the mad scramble they find themselves in today.
I'm so passionate about this, I've started compiling my thoughts into a new book. It's not just about Direct Sales Reps anymore. Personal Branding is necessary for anyone trying to "be known" in the world. When I think of all the personal brands in high school, I believe even more that there should be a required course on building reputations.
Branding=reputation=branding
Need I say more?
I posted a response, but I also wanted to expand on it here:
Why do we have to extricate brand from reputation? A lot of what I teach is about establishing yourself as a value provider, hence your reputation is PART and PARCEL to your brand identity.
There are some great points in this post. I also believe strongly that throwing out the baby with the bath water, as it were, only makes the situation more problematic.
People who make themselves indespensible are not losing their jobs - they're making their own way. Even if companies collapse, they have other options they can pursue - thanks in part to positioning themseleves and having a great reputation for results.
Reputation=Brand=Reputation
You can't have one without the other.
In real life, when a person knows you by your reputation, that's how you are percieved. It is, in essence your brand. Do you want to be known as a self-centered egoist? That's your brand. You want to be known as a kind-hearted marshmallow? That's your brand.
Don't want to be known at all?
That's your brand
Trust me. The people who have developed a reputation for excellence and delivering results are rarely out of a job - and if they are it's by choice.
Employers clamor for people like that. People who are known for delivering the goods on time, under budget, with an amazing WOW factor.
In my opinion, your reputation is NOT separate from your brand, indeed it is the CORE of your brand. Everything I teach about personal branding centers on who you are, and what you're all about at the core of your being.
Reputation is not the only component of building a solid brand, but my mother ALWAYS equated McDonald's with a clean restroom and cheap eats when we were travelling as kids. It was part of their reputation. It was a core component of what endeared the brand to my mom.
Personal Branding isn't just about your smile, what you wear or having your face on a magazine. It's not just about your message. It's about CONGRUENCE between your reputation and your message, your image and your demeanor.
You can put on a great dress and have a great smile, but an airhead by any other name will be just as useless at a networking event as the one dressed in rags.
Personal Branding is NOT about creating a facade. It's about celebrating the best parts of the real you in a way that makes you marketable, in demand, and gives you back control over your business.
When I talk with Direct Sales reps, so often they focus so heavily on the product. I think in light of the recent company closures, it's safe to say that had those reps been focusing on building their own reputation in the market place (their brand), they would not be in the mad scramble they find themselves in today.
I'm so passionate about this, I've started compiling my thoughts into a new book. It's not just about Direct Sales Reps anymore. Personal Branding is necessary for anyone trying to "be known" in the world. When I think of all the personal brands in high school, I believe even more that there should be a required course on building reputations.
Branding=reputation=branding
Need I say more?
Obama Camp Got It Wrong: Last Minute Marketing Mistakes
Regardless of how you vote (or if you vote) today, I have a "real life marketing" story about the campaign that demonstrates what COULD have been a great last minute push for a presidential candidate, but instead turned into just so much litter on the streets.
As I sat in my office working on my ezine yesterday, a strange looking, ball cap wearing gentleman approached my home. He walked up to the door, never rang the bell and walked away.
Nervous, I went to the door and saw him descending the stairs and heading down the street. It was not my mail carrier, but I knew that the mail carrier had just delivered, so I opened the door to get the mail out of my box, thinking this weirdo might have tried to swipe my mail.
No such luck. All the bills, letters and magazines were still tucked safely inside my mailbox.
But as I collected the mail and turned around I noticed two things: first, another gentleman was on the other side of the street, pacing this nut job, going from house to house. Second, there was an annoying blue hang tag attached to my door asking me to "Vote Tuesday Nov. 4th for Change".
With no concern as to who or how I'm voting, what matters to me or why, these yahoos are going door to door leaving their yard waste on the front doors of my neighbors, without so much as a knock.
It reminded me of when the kids used to play ring and run. Only not as much fun.
Here's where the Obama Camp got it wrong. First, they're just plastering. I call this "the shotgun approach" to doing business - and say what you want political campaigns are business. They're just throwing spaghetti at the wall and hoping something will stick.
Never mind looking in the yard to see if there is a political sign or anything. Just hang a tag on every door (there are at LEAST 3 McCain supporters on my street - they've got signs - and these yahoos put hang tags on their doors anyway).
There's a difference between "never pre-judge" and "don't take no for an answer". I would think a yard sign would be a fair indicator of how a person feels.
This morning, there are a handful of these hang tags blowing down the street - several of the houses they posted are vacant.
How could this have been solved?
Ring the bell, folks. Knock on a door. Say HELLO, for pity's sake. You'll have better luck encouraging someone to get out the vote if you take the time to connect with them.
The same holds true in business. CONNECT with your constituents (customers). Build a relationship - at least say HELLO and ring the dang bell.
Otherwise, don't be surprised if they choose your competitor IN SPITE of your actions.
As I sat in my office working on my ezine yesterday, a strange looking, ball cap wearing gentleman approached my home. He walked up to the door, never rang the bell and walked away.
Nervous, I went to the door and saw him descending the stairs and heading down the street. It was not my mail carrier, but I knew that the mail carrier had just delivered, so I opened the door to get the mail out of my box, thinking this weirdo might have tried to swipe my mail.
No such luck. All the bills, letters and magazines were still tucked safely inside my mailbox.
But as I collected the mail and turned around I noticed two things: first, another gentleman was on the other side of the street, pacing this nut job, going from house to house. Second, there was an annoying blue hang tag attached to my door asking me to "Vote Tuesday Nov. 4th for Change".
With no concern as to who or how I'm voting, what matters to me or why, these yahoos are going door to door leaving their yard waste on the front doors of my neighbors, without so much as a knock.
It reminded me of when the kids used to play ring and run. Only not as much fun.
Here's where the Obama Camp got it wrong. First, they're just plastering. I call this "the shotgun approach" to doing business - and say what you want political campaigns are business. They're just throwing spaghetti at the wall and hoping something will stick.
Never mind looking in the yard to see if there is a political sign or anything. Just hang a tag on every door (there are at LEAST 3 McCain supporters on my street - they've got signs - and these yahoos put hang tags on their doors anyway).
There's a difference between "never pre-judge" and "don't take no for an answer". I would think a yard sign would be a fair indicator of how a person feels.
This morning, there are a handful of these hang tags blowing down the street - several of the houses they posted are vacant.
How could this have been solved?
Ring the bell, folks. Knock on a door. Say HELLO, for pity's sake. You'll have better luck encouraging someone to get out the vote if you take the time to connect with them.
The same holds true in business. CONNECT with your constituents (customers). Build a relationship - at least say HELLO and ring the dang bell.
Otherwise, don't be surprised if they choose your competitor IN SPITE of your actions.
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