Back to Basics
Monday,9 November,2009 08:49:59
Sure, Social Networking is getting all the buzz out there – that is when people aren’t asking “what’s next”, which might mean it’s a good time to remind ourselves that sometimes good old fashioned methods still have their place in today’s fast-paced world.
My parents were adamant about thank you notes. How many times did I have to be coerced into writing my dear Nana to thank her for yet another handmade, mustard colored knit pancho? Too many to count. I still try and write actual thank you notes – for a great dinner or for help on a project. I write them because I like to get them – a hand written note on an actual piece of paper? Priceless. When I do get them I hang them up on our bulletin board at the front of the office – share the love and remind people of the good work we all do.
Face time! I am not talking Skype, I am talking actual visits with customers, vendors and colleagues. Get together for brunch, or just stop by for a cup of coffee in the morning on your way to work. You don’t always have to talk business or work for a sale; sometimes just saying hello is enough.
Lay off Twitter for a day or two and hit up an actual networking event for some extra-curricular interaction! You never know what kind of useful connection you might make at an event for green professionals or young entrepreneurs. There’s dozens of these networking opportunities in every city every week – get out there! Arm yourself with plenty of business cards, have a short introduction about yourself and your company ready, and work it!
Step away from the Blackberry! It’s difficult to disconnect yourself from your phone, I know, but checking your email or a text during a conversation with someone is a sure fire way to let them know that you are not interested in what they have to say. Be present, people will sense your interest and will be more willing to connect authentically.
Get comfortable in the modern world of social networking – its not going anywhere – but don’t forget the importance of adding that human touch to everything you do.
Introduction to Webinars
Tuesday,3 November,2009 13:59:20
As travel budgets shrink and marketing teams scramble to keep up on the latest trends – webinars offer quick and often inexpensive, if not free, opportunities to learn what other people are doing well without traveling anywhere to attend a conference or event. They are also a heap more sustainable than flying around the country!
I attended a nice, simple webinar last week hosted by Mobile Dialog entitled “Restaurant Social Media Marketing 101” and took away a few pointers.
If you have ever created a Powerpoint presentation, you can host a webinar! Don’t hesitate to give your customers an opportunity to learn something from you. Learning something is the key – this is not the opportunity to make a sales pitch – stay focused on content. You have knowledge that can help your customers.
Once you have your topic ready and an outline for your presentation, pick a hosting site such as GoToMeeting or Webex, and get yourself set up. Take some time to learn about all the webinar technology that is available, and the associated perks like registration assistance or post-event reporting.
Hosting an internal webinar for your staff is a great way to get some practice in and work out the kinks. Showcase some new products for your sales team or pick a topic for a training seminar. Make sure you use the actual equipment you’ll be using for your webinar – the same phone, computer, etc. That way you can check for small distractions too, like a rattling overhead fan or other background noises. Ask your staff for detailed feedback to help you identify and correct any issues.
Once you’re ready, pick a good day and time for your audience. Experts generally agree that Mondays and Fridays are lousy choices, and you want to be aware of what hours work for your customers.
Use your outstanding social media network to drum up some attendees! Tweet like crazy, send out a Facebook invite, and coordinate an email assault. I like the idea of limiting it to the first 10, 15 people – create some buzz when it sells out!
Want to see it all in action? Check out the SeafoodSource.com hosted webinar on 11/05!
Let us know if you have attended any recent webinars and what your thoughts or impressions were!
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