Big Dreams and Hard Work

by Gail Martin | October 24, 2013 · 2:52 pm

Promotional Tools on Facebook and Twitter to Grow Your Business

Growing your business productively means understanding all of the tools available to you. Just as smart phones and tablet PCs have redefined productivity on the go, social media has redefined how people communicate, and more specifically, how consumers want to communicate with businesses.

Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn are the three major social media platforms. It’s worth taking some time to look at how Facebook and Twitter can help promote your company while boosting your productivity.

Facebook basics for business

Facebook now has over one billion users. While Facebook was originally designed as a recreational place to connect with friends, businesses were quick to see the potential. In fact, businesses have embraced Facebook faster than the Facebook architecture has adapted, leaving Facebook often scrambling to catch up to how its subscribers want to use the site.

Being present on social media for a company today is much like being present on the Web: you are judged negatively if you’re not there. Just as many consumers would not consider a company to be a “real” business without a Web site, so many purchasers look for a Facebook presence to see if you are “real.” What matters is that consumers have decided that they want to have a two-way conversation with the companies they patronize, and firms that abstain from being part of the dialog do so at their peril.

At the very least, you need to have a Facebook Business Page. As Facebook has adapted to the needs of business users, these Business Pages have become easier to create and use. Facebook wants businesses to promote from a Business Page and not from a personal profile. Ignoring this rule can get your page deleted from Facebook. Additionally, direct mail marketing is another effective tool for promoting business, allowing targeted communication with potential customers through physical mail, offering a personal touch and potentially yielding high engagement and response rates.

A Business Page works a little differently from a personal profile page in that a Business Page can’t “friend” individual users. Instead, users are invited to “like” the page and thereby opt-in to receive automatic updates whenever the page adds new information.

Today’s consumers value a connection through Facebook because they want to be able to express their opinions, ask questions, and feel as though they are being heard. They want to do business with people, not faceless corporations. Companies that learn to listen can reap valuable benefits, from uncovering (and being able to fix) customer service issues to discovering competitive advantages when a rival firm has dropped the ball, to new product ideas from the suggestions of loyal purchasers. And if your business faces financial difficulties or challenges during this process, visit businessinsolvencyadvice.org.uk for resources and expert guidance to help maintain financial stability and long-term success.

When you create your Business Page, make sure both your logo and your photo are prominently displayed. People need to find you as a business, but they want to connect with you as the person behind the business. Fill in the Information section, making sure your content is all about the benefit you provide to your customers and what you do for them (not just a laundry list of products and services). Include your other Web sites, links to blogs and podcasts and business contact information so your Facebook fans can find you on the Internet. Additionally, take some time to learn about voluntary liquidation cases to better understand how to handle your business strategically in case you ever need to consider that option.

If you already have a profile page, Facebook wants you to use it primarily for personal/recreational content. However, it’s OK to talk about business some of the time, just as you would in real life. Also, with a profile you can invite people to “like” your Business Page, and suggest that your “friends” also visit your Business Page. Just keep your profile mostly personal, to remain compliant with Facebook’s Terms of Service.

Excerpted from 30 Days to Virtual Productivity Success by Gail Z. Martin

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by Gail Martin | October 17, 2013 · 3:54 pm

Trash to Treasure—What’s the Value of the “Junk” in Your Mental Attic?

When I was a kid, I thought the big boxes in the attic and basement were “junk.”

After all, no one ever opened any of them or did anything with them. They weren’t fun like Christmas decorations or useful like school supplies or enjoyable, like books. The boxes had been in the basement before I was born, and they were still there, almost half a century later, when we cleaned out the house a few years ago after my mother died and my father went into a nursing home with Alzheimer’s.

Maybe it was all the childhood warnings that the boxes were “Important”, or maybe a vague idea that they represented a critical point in my parents’ lives, but with a little repacking, the mysterious boxes went to a storage unit. I knew they were something my father wouldn’t want to part with in his lifetime, but I had no clue as to whether anyone else would find them as fascinating as he did.

When dad passed away at the end of March, everything needed to be appraised. That meant unpacking all the boxes in storage so the contents could be inventoried, photographed and their value identified.

That was when I truly realized the value of the “stuff” in the boxes.

You see, when my father and mother were first married, they went “Out West” to North Dakota. Dad, a city kid from Reading, PA, always loved Native American culture since his childhood listening to the Lone Ranger on the radio. As a newly-minted doctor, he seized the opportunity to go serve at Fort Yates on the Standing Rock reservation.

But his real passion was meeting the Native Americans who remembered the old ways, people in their 80s and 90s who had survived the Custer battle, who had seen Sitting Bull, who knew what life was like before the reservations. He even learned to speak Sioux.

During the day, mom taught school and dad dealt with everything from delivering babies to tuberculosis to gunshot wounds at the hospital. But evenings and weekends, they got to know the elders, participated in the traditions and celebrations, and captured the stories of history’s witnesses on paper, audiotape and 8 mm film. On July 29, 1950, mom and dad were adopted into the Sioux tribe. It was a life-long dream come true.

As they got to know their neighbors, mom and dad preserved pieces of that history—pottery, textiles, beaded clothing, moccasins….things many people at the time considered to be of little value.

Guess what was in the boxes? A time-capsule of Native American history. Dad’s collection is being curated by Freeman’s Auction House in Philadelphia for a sale later this year, and in the meantime, part of the collection is heading to a noted Western museum to be part of an exhibit. Needless to say, it turned out to be a lot more valuable than I ever dreamed as a kid.

What does this have to do with your business? Plenty. Because I believe we all have valuable “junk” in our mental attics and basement that we haven’t put to good use.

What do you know that could be earning you money, but you haven’t used it because you don’t recognized its value?

What expertise do you have that you haven’t offered to the world because you (mistakenly) believe that if you know something, “everyone” knows it? (They don’t!)

Take a moment now to make a list of what you’re good at, what comes naturally, or what you have a knack for doing. Take a good, hard look at the list.

Where are the hidden gems, the treasures you could be using to create teleseminars, webinars, live events, info-products, and other useful materials that help others AND boost your income? (If you have difficulty seeing the jewels in the “junk” on your list, do this exercise with a friend and swap lists.)

We’re often too close to our knowledge and expertise to realize that what is “common sense” to us isn’t common at all. It’s not just about what you know; it’s about your unique perspective that has been forged by the road you’ve traveled. No one else can share that information in exactly the same way, no matter how many other people are out there talking about the topic.

And trust me, there are people who need what you have to offer who just haven’t been able to “connect” with the message of other experts. These people—your “tribe”–will light up with a breakthrough because you speak their language like no one else.

So take a good look at the “junk” in your mental attic and make up your mind to turn your trash into treasure!

Want to continue the conversation and share your thoughts and questions? Connect with me on Twitter @GailMartinPR!

Gail Z. Martin owns DreamSpinner Communications and helps companies and solo professionals in the U.S. and Canada improve their marketing results in 30 days. Gail has an MBA in marketing and over 20 years of corporate and non-profit experience at senior executive levels. Gail hosts the Shared Dreams Marketing Podcast. She’s the author of 30 Days to Social Media Success and The Thrifty Author’s Guide to Launching Your Book. Find her online at www.GailMartinMarketing.com, on Twitter @GailMartinPR and check out her Facebook page at 30 Day Results Guide.

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by Gail Martin | October 9, 2013 · 3:21 pm

6 Business Breakthroughs I Learned from Superheroes

by Gail Z. Martin

Ok, I’ll admit it—I love superheroes. Batman, Superman, Iron Man, Spider-man—I’ve been a fan since I was a kid, and a new movie will still see me standing in line, clutching my ticket and popcorn, waiting for a thrill.

But if you think superheroes are kid stuff, think again. I’ve learned several important business lessons from those bigger-than-life characters, and I’d like to share them with you.

1. Bad luck can be the beginning of a whole new amazing career. Peter Parker got bitten by a radioactive spider, and became Spider-Man. Fantastic Four were exposed to radiation, and gained superpowers to save the world. Batman lost his parents, but became the savior of Gotham City. In every case, these superheroes overcame tragedy and personal loss to become something far more than they ever expected they could be. What have you overcome that has prepared you to step up to challenges and play at a whole new level?

2. With great power comes great responsibility. Peter Parker’s Uncle Ben warns him that to whom much is given, much will be expected. When you’re successful in business and have more than you need, remember to give back to your community and to those less fortunate. Use your power, great or small, to make the world a better place and ease the suffering of those around you.

3. Teamwork gets you farther than grandstanding, even if you’ve got amazing skills. It’s the lesson nearly every superhero has to learn the hard way early in his/her career. Just because you’re hot stuff doesn’t mean you can go it alone. You are far more powerful with the help of allies than you could ever be alone.

4. Everyone has his kryptonite. Superman has X-ray vision, amazing strength and super speed. He’s invincible, except for this green rock that makes him powerless. Everyone, no matter how successful, has a kryptonite that takes the wind out of their sails. The next time you are in awe of a celebrity speaker, fantastically successful entrepreneur or visionary leader and feeling insignificant by comparison, realize that they, too, have their weaknesses and insecurities. They’re not Superman, so you shouldn’t feel as if you have to be a super hero and perfect in everything to succeed.

5. Don’t be a jerk. Tony Stark (Iron Man) learns this the hard way, and the lesson is expensive. Value the people who are in your life, and let them know it. Thank those who enable your success. And even if you are smarter, faster, and stronger than everyone around you, don’t flaunt your superiority. Instead, use your abilities to help others shine.

6. Anger creates more problems. Scientist David Banner turns into the Incredible Hulk loses control when he gets angry, and turns into a huge rage-filled monster. During his angry rampages, lots of things get destroyed, but Banner wakes up bruised, battered and in worse shape than before he got angry. Take a hint from the Hulk. Anger makes monsters of the best people. Don’t act out.

Those are just some of the things I’ve learned from superheroes, but the most important lesson is this: You can change the world BECAUSE you are not like everyone else. You are special, wonderful and unique, and the journey that brought you to where you are today makes you uniquely qualified to use your abilities to make a big difference in the lives of those around you.

Who are your favorite superheroes and what lessons did you learn from them? I’d love to know. Want to continue the conversation and share your thoughts and questions? Connect with me on Twitter @GailMartinPR!

By Gail Z. Martin

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by Gail Martin | September 17, 2013 · 9:12 am

Shifting to the Next Level

By Debbi Dachinger
Host of Syndicated “Dare to Dream” show
Bestselling, Award-winning Author

When we desire to shift our life to the next level, we should ask these questions.

Are you expressing thankfulness right now? Look at your level of Gratitude and Gratefulness.

How authentic are you in your life?

How adaptable are you?

Can life and circumstance still surprise and delight you?

Do you keep things simple or do you complicate life to be full of drama and chaos? Do you listen to others? Do you command the space you came here to inhabit? Do you use your gifts and talents? Does your passion lead you to the next right thing?

Being Authentic

“I had no idea that being your authentic self could make me as rich as I’ve become. If I had, I’d have done it a lot earlier.” -Oprah Winfrey

Great leaders are who they say they are. Vulnerability and humility are hallmarks of the authentic leader and create a positive, attractive energy. We all want to help an authentic person to succeed. There used to be a divide between one’s public self and private self, but the social internet has blurred that line. Tomorrow’s leaders are transparent about who they are online, merging their personal and professional lives together.

Responsiveness

“Life is 10% what happens to you and 90% how you react to it.” -Charles Swindoll

Everyone you come in contact with today is a potential viral sparkplug, for better or for worse, and the winning leader is one who recognizes this and insists upon a culture of responsiveness. Whether the communication is email, voice mail, a note or a tweet, responding shows you care and allows others to make a positive impact on your organization.

How Adaptable Are You?

“When you’re finished changing, you’re finished.” -Ben Franklin

Gratefulness

“I would maintain that thanks are the highest form of thought, and that gratitude is happiness doubled by wonder.” -Gilbert Chesterton

Setting one priority doesn’t mean we don’t do other things. However, we give each of our biggest goals top priority in our busy schedules and look for ways to tie our other activities to that priority. It makes us go around the table to ask ourselves: What do we need to do this week to move this goal forward?

The best way to stay focused is to ignore the back and forth swings and instead focus on the long run.

REMEMBER:

Do What Makes Your Heart Beat The Fastest:
Surround Yourself With People Smarter Than You:
Nurture and Develop: Go where you’ll stretch yourself and be forced to grow in ways you wouldn’t have planned.

The point is this – we’re all going to be overpraised and we’re all going to be underpraised, but the key is to just buckle your seatbelt and keep on. If we’re not making mistakes and we’re not trying new things, then we’re not innovating. Learning from your mistakes is how you reinvent yourself and your life. Are you ready to shift?

Written by Debbi Dachinger

Debbi’s brand new (second) book entitled: Wisdom To Success will launch on September 17, 2013. Come to Mystic Journey Bookstore for a special presentation AND book signing on Saturday, September 21 at 2 PM. This book is positively impacting millions of lives as Debbi’s mission is to teach and inspire people to create their dreams into a reality and accomplish their goals – someone out there will invent something to save the planet or change the ocean or just make new toys – we are all contributors; let’s align to free all our dreams.

“Wisdom To Success: The Surefire Secrets to Accomplish All Your Dreams”

by Debbi Dachinger

Website: www.deborahdachinger.com/book

Debbi is an expert in goal achievement. She is a radio and TV personality; a three-time bestselling author, keynote speaker, and coach (for goal attainment and in coaching people how to be exquisite talent while being interviewed on radio). Her work with people in the media, workshops and through coaching has been achieved through decades of research and education. Debbi’s “Dare to Dream” radio show is a syndicated, multi-award winning program with 2+ million listeners offering inspiring information and methods on how to achieve goals and dreams. Deborah is a top-notch radio personality, was an award-winning actress and singer, a successful motivational speaker, a professional voice over artist, and was a popular jewelry designer. Awards or Accolades to mention: Editor’s Pick: Featured Intriguing Creator, Broadcasting Industry Lifetime Achievement Award, Featured in multiple news sources, Inducted into the Who’s Who Hall of Fame for entertainment, Opened a workshop for don Miguel Ruiz, Seen in the documentary film “Girl’s Rule,” about Self-Esteem and Confidence, Author of the bestselling book: “DARE TO DREAM: THIS LIFE COUNTS!” International speaker, Has an inspirational video channel at: YouTube.com (debontheradio). Debbi’s abundant career is in using her voice to live out loud, to teach and inspire others to Dare to Dream and make their dreams a reality. WEB: https://www.deborahdachinger.com
Debbi Dachinger
Goal Achievement Expert
Syndicated, Award-Winning Host of “Dare to Dream” Radio
Bestselling author of “DARE TO DREAM: This Life Counts!”

Bestselling Book: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1467930814
https://www.deborahdachinger.com
https://www.YouTube.com/debontheradio
https://www.Twitter.com/debontheradio
https://www.DebOnTheRadio@blogspot.com
https://www.facebook.com/DaretoDreamRadiotv
https://www.linkedin.com/in/debbidachinger

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by Gail Martin | September 9, 2013 · 9:08 am

9 Simple Ways to Create a Business Video that Rocks

by Debra Kasowski

Do you want to create a video for your teleclass, blog post, or book launch? Do you want to create your own YouTube TV show? Many small business owners back away from the very thought as they think it costs big money to create video that is compelling and increases their web presence. Professional videos have their place; you may not have it in your budget yet.

I learned a simple yet less expensive way to get quality video that can maximize your exposure on line and attract more customers.

One of biggest lessons I learned during trial and error is that you need to –KEEP IT SIMPLE!

Remember why you have decided to use the video platform. Was it to create that visual connection with your audience? Was it to demonstrate how your product or service works? Was it to capture a testimonial from someone you did business with? If you said yes, let’s keep going! One should know how to sell a business as well in case of a crisis.

You can often use what you have as smartphone technology has advanced to help capture clear high quality images.

Equipment – I use my iPhone attached to a Belkin adapter that sits on a tripod. It works great to keep my video stabilized. There are many hand held flip camcorders that you can use to shoot your video.
Create a script – There is nothing worse than going blank in front of a camera. The great news is you are in control of the camera and you can retake as many times as you need too. Use a queue card, flip chart paper, or create a teleprompter with your laptop to help you remember what you want to say. Don’t forget practice makes perfect.
Deliver Content Worth Sharing – You want to create content that is compelling that inspires, educates, or entertains. Your video should be anywhere between 2-15 minutes in length. People are busy and time is a commodity so pack in 3-5 tips and techniques that provide value.
Good Lighting – Good lighting is essential to creating a good video. Do not shoot your video with a window behind you as it creates shadow and darkness. Shoot where you can get lots a natural light.
Great sound quality – Shoot your video away from extra distractions and lots of background noise. People running through your background or making peace signs can distract your viewers from concentrating on your message. An external microphone can be helpful but not always necessary. Speak loud and clear.
Make Up and Clothing – Wear colours that flatter you and you feel good in. Avoid prints as they tend to move and shift on screen. Apply a bit more makeup that you normally do on film. Use powder to touch up any shine on the forehead, nose, or chin.
Let the good times roll! You can add music to the introduction or the end of your videos for an add effect. Background music is good but make sure that it does not overpower your voice and message.
Add Text – Emphasize key points by using text when editing your video. Not everyone learns the same way so text helps those who learn from reading. iMovie has an easy editing software.
Call to Action – End your video with a call to action! What do you want people to do after watching your video? Share it will others. Comment. Go to your website.

Video is one of the most powerful tools on the internet today. It increases your Google ranking and exposure to potential clients. It helps build a connections and relationships and especially the know, like, and trust factor.

Empower yourself by keeping things simple and getting your message out into the world.

Debra Kasowski is a transformational speaker, author, and success coach Debra Kasowski is best-selling co-author of GPS Your Best Life: Charting Your Destination and Getting There in Style and her latest solo authored book The Entrepreneurial Mom’s Guide to Growing a Business, Raising a Family, and Creating a Life You Love was just released. Get your Free Mp3 Download of the 7 Resolutionary Breakthroughs to Profit and Prosper by Taking Charge of Your Business and Your Life when you sign up for her ezine https://www.themillionairewoman.com

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by Gail Martin | June 12, 2013 · 9:23 am

6 Success Secrets I Learned from TV Sitcoms

By Gail Z. Martin

Remember sitcoms? Situation comedies were the shows before “reality TV” took over. A few still remain, but nothing like the heyday of the 1970s and 1980s.

So what did I learn from spending my formative years with the Bradys, the Cunninghams, the Partridges, the Huxtables, the Romanos, the Bunkers, the Clampetts and all the other TV families who became an indelible part of my memories? As it turns out, quite a bit!

1. “Marsha, Marsha, Marsha!” Can’t you hear Jan Brady’s howl of frustration over her older, more popular, prettier sister? How many times have we looked at another business that seems to be ahead of us, has more followers on Twitter or more likes on Facebook, or that got a plum bit of PR and turned green with envy? Jan had to learn the hard way that being yourself is essential. Learn from other successful companies, but realize that you can’t just copy what other people do, you have to adapt it to be unique for you. Click here 65 if you need help building and maintaining a good reputation for your business to thrive and grow online.

2. “Come on, get happy!” Six singing kids and their musical mother set out in a psychedelic school bus to rock the world. I loved the Partridge Family, and not just because of David Cassidy. It’s the show that taught me why you need an agent (although fortunately, both of mine are much better than Reuben Kincaide), and showed me that no matter how big and crazy your dream is, you can find a way to make it happen.

3. Quit before you jump the shark. Remember Fonzie from Happy Days? He was a bigger than life character who always seemed to have everything under control. In one episode, he did a daring motorcycle jump over a shark tank, a la Evil Knievel, stretching any semblance of believability. Life lesson—go big, but keep it real.

4. Don’t let “swimmin’ pools and movie stars” change who you are. Jed Clampett and his clan struck it rich with “black gold, Texas tea—oil, that is” and moved to Beverly Hills, long before the Fresh Prince or the 90210 gang. They were always out of step with the world around them, but they never lost their integrity, core values, or identity. So make it big—but don’t lose who you are or forget where you came from.

5. Working moms can be great moms. Claire Huxtable from The Cosby Show, Ann Romano from One Day at a Time, Shirley Partridge and others blazed a trail for the kids who watched their weekly exploits. Watching them, we saw a role model for a new kind of future, and cheered when they didn’t let obstacles get in their way. The moral? Don’t let other people’s restrictions limit your opportunities.

6. Value the memories, but change with the times. “Those were the days,” sang the theme song to All in the Family. We watched Archie Bunker wrestle with changing times, changing roles, and a culture that didn’t look like the world in which he grew up. As Archie struggled to find his place, we went along for the ride. It was one of the first sitcoms to confront serious issues like cancer and racism, and by bringing tough subjects into our living rooms, we learned and grew along with Archie. What I learned? Change is part of life, and you can’t hang on to the way things were. And when you get past the fear, new things can be wonderful.

What did you learn from the shows you watched as a kid, and how did it influence you? I’d love to know. Want to continue the conversation and share your thoughts and questions? Connect with me on Twitter @GailMartinPR!

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by Gail Martin | June 5, 2013 · 9:43 am

Save Yourself $50 a Day–With Your Phone

By Gail Z. Martin

If you could get one more productive hour per day, what would it be worth to you? Eighty cents a minute, or nearly $50 an hour, based on an annual salary of $100,000.

Now think about getting that extra productive hour EVERY day, and that $50 becomes big money very quickly.

Where does the extra time come from? You’ve still got 24 hours in your day—but with the right apps on your mobile phone and tablet computer, you can turn the minutes you would otherwise be wasting—waiting for an appointment, for a plane, for your kids, for a meeting—into productive time, even billable hours.

Sound good? It’s easier than you think.

Just because you’re out of the office doesn’t mean your productivity can come to a standstill. While you can’t have your laptop with you everywhere you go, smart phones and tablet PCs make it possible to do all kinds of tasks that once required a full office setup.

Many of the Cloud-based programs discussed earlier in the book have smart phone and tablet PC apps so that you can utilize those same programs when you’re not at your desktop. In addition, many social media sites also have mobile apps, making it possible for you to keep working your online marketing strategy when you’re on the go. In addition, other apps just make it easier to have the tools you need at your fingertips, conveniently stored inside your mobile device.

Mobile versions connect with the Cloud

Need something from your desktop when you’re in the car? GoToMyPC has a mobile app to make it easy for you to retrieve whatever you need. Likewise, mobile devices with Internet access can connect with your Cloud-based storage programs such as Box.net, Dropbox and Google Docs so that you don’t need to wait until you are in your hotel room or at a temporary office to get the information you want.

Opening, reading or editing PDF files can pose a problem when you’re away from your fully-loaded desktop computer. If your work entails being able to review PDF documents, consider PDF Reader. This app lets you open PDFs from your iPhone as well as make editing changes such as strike-outs, highlights or underlines and save your edited file.

Use PDF Converter or PDF-it if you want to save an Office file into PDF format. PDF Expert bundles the reading and editing capabilities together, along with the ability to sign your own signature to PDF documents and fill out PDF forms. If you want to share your PDF-based presentation, consider PDF Presenter (for iPad), which offers easy-to-use fingertip controls to flip through your slides.

For those who live or die by delivery schedules, you can track your FedEx parcels with the FedEx Mobile app. Breathlessly awaiting a snail mail delivery? USPS Mobile not only lets you track and confirm package delivery, it also includes a handy way to find your nearest post office, look up ZIP Codes, schedule a pick-up, scan labels or calculate shipping prices. Not to be outdone, the UPS Mobile app lets you do most of the same tasks that the USPS app permits, only with a UPS focus.

Social media apps make it easy to maximize “power surges”

Many business people lament that they “don’t have time” for social media. Yet a growing number of customers have made it clear that they prefer to interact with businesses via social media, so you are notable by your absence if you aren’t part of the online conversation.

Here’s another way to think about the social media/time dilemma. Do you ever have short periods of downtime, such as arriving early for an appointment, waiting in an airport, or cooling your heels awaiting your child’s dismissal from soccer practice? If so, mobile apps make it possible for you to tackle your social media outreach in strategic “power surges”.

First, make sure you’ve loaded the mobile apps for Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn to your smart phone or tablet PC. Once you’ve got the apps loaded, sign in to your accounts so that they will automatically connect you in the future. Now you’re ready to hop online whenever you have a few extra minutes and leverage the power of social media.

Connectivity is only part of the story, however. You need to have a plan for what you’ll do after you connect. As I discuss in my book 30 Days to Social Media Success, you’ll get the most impact for your effort if you create a list of at least 30 short, strategically focused actions that you can take in 15 – 30 minutes. You can keep your list on a note-taking app on your mobile device. If you’re pressed for time, use 10- or 15-minute “power surges” to get the same amount of work done in short bursts. Here are some ideas:

Friend two or three new people through your personal profile and suggest they “like” your business fan page
Connect with two to four people who already “like” your fan page to start up a conversation
Comment on posts or reply to comments on your pages
Send a couple of tweets, upload a photo or link to an article that would be of interest to your audience
Use your smart phone video camera to record a short tip and upload it to YouTube.
Check in with at least two of your LinkedIn connections—congratulate them on recent career news, introduce them to some of your other connections, or ask how the family is doing.
Make a LinkedIn recommendation or ask for a referral.
Check in with your Facebook or LinkedIn groups to comment on a current topic, offer an answer to a question, or help out a fellow-group member.
Reply to a direct message (DM) on Twitter, retweet a good tweet from someone you follow, or do an @name public reply to a comment of interest to your followers.

Social media is designed for short attention spans, so it’s perfect for you to jump on and jump off when you’re on the go and your time is limited. You may find that accessing social media through your mobile devices makes your wait time fly and actually makes you look forward to connecting online!

Your on-the-road toolbox

You never know what might come up when you’re away from the office. Here’s a rundown of some other helpful mobile app tools to keep your workday humming along.

MyToolbox turns your smart phone into a setsquare, bubble level and caliper—just in case you have a handyman moment when you’re on the go.
MultiMeasures gives you a timer, stopwatch, ruler, plumb bob, protractor—even a seismometer—all in your smart phone.
DocumentsToGo lets you access, edit and save your Microsoft Word documents (including formatting) as well as sync to your desktop.
Want to keep tabs on your money? Take a look at consolidated tracking apps like Rudder, Mint, Wesabe or Quicken Online, which can track your investment and bank account balances, help you budget and alert you to overdraft risk.
Need a better way to scan cards, receipts, or other documents? CamScanner converts your smart phone to a scanner.
If you’re on the road and looking for the best local deal on gas, try the GasBuddy app to find the cheapest fill-up in your neighborhood.
Most road warriors accumulate lots of restaurant, hotel and other frequent shopper cards. Who has room in the carry-on bag for all that? CardStar stores all of your loyalty cards on your smart phone so that you get your discounts without bulking up your wallet.

Your goal is to find the apps and Web sites that help you be as comfortable and productive as possible when you’re away from the office. Explore, experiment and enjoy!

Excerpted from 30 Days to Virtual Productivity Success by Gail Martin. Order this book at https://amzn.com/1601632266

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Filed under Business Planning, Gail Z. Martin, Strategy

Tagged as Big Dreams and Hard Work, DreamSpinner Communications, Gail Martin Marketing, Gail Z. Martin, productivity

by Gail Martin | May 29, 2013 · 9:03 am

Lucille Ball, Ann Romano and Sheryl Sandberg: What I Learned from my TV Moms and Facebook’s CEO

By Gail Z. Martin

Thanks to Facebook CEO Sheryl Sandberg, the headlines have revisited one of my least favorite memories of the 1990s—the “mommy wars.”

Back in the 1990s, when Nirvana was climbing the charts and Wolf Blitzer was the “scud stud” of the first Iraq war, pundits prattled on about the so-called “mommy wars” between working moms and stay-at-home moms. It was a take-no-prisoners battle that left everyone with battle wounds. After twenty some years, I thought we might have reached a truce.

Then comes Sheryl Sandberg’s new book, “Lean In: Women, Work and the Will to Lead”, and it reminded me that we’ve still got some battles to fight. And as I thought about it, I realized how my views on being a working mom were formed long before I was an adult—sitting in front of my living room TV.

Do you remember Lucille Ball? Whether you saw the re-runs of “I Love Lucy” or “Here’s Lucy” or “The Lucy Show”, she was a fixture on TV throughout the 1960s and 1970s. And while some of the early episodes now appear quaint in their fixed gender roles, (“Lucy, you’ve got some ‘splainin’ to do!), I remember how in her later shows, she played Lucy Charmichael (and later, Lucy Carter), a single working mom facing all kinds of workplace dilemmas. I laughed at her problems with Mr. Mooney, her demanding boss, but oddly enough, more than a decade later, Mr. Mooney could have sat down for a cocktail with Dabney Coleman’s despicable boss character in the movie “9 to 5” and they would have been soul mates. Things hadn’t changed all that much.

Lucy’s characters overcame workplace discrimination, overly demanding bosses, and people who underestimated her abilities, all while juggling the demands of motherhood. And what did I, as an impressionable youngster, take away from that? I learned that the workplace wasn’t a friendly place for women (especially mothers), but that humor, persistence and a good network of friends could get you through anything.

Fast forward to the 1980s, when actress Bonnie Franklin played Ann Romano, taking it “One Day at a Time.” The workplace hadn’t gotten any friendlier for women, or mothers, but now women at least had a broader variety of jobs in which they could deal with the vicissitudes of life. Where Lucy was a secretary and then worked in an employment agency run by a family member, Ann was an account executive at an ad agency—a step up toward management.

Ann Romano tackled much more serious issues than Lucy Charmicael, including divorce, suicide and harassment. Where Lucy had coquettish humor and an old-school tendency to be sneaky, Ann had attitude and a willingness to take things head-on, but she still fell back on the loyal support of family and friends. I learned that it still wasn’t smooth going for women (or mothers), and that there were times when humor wasn’t enough and you had to take a stand.

Which is why I find the reactions to the new “Lean In” book by Sheryl Sandberg so interesting. The book appears to mean something different to everyone who reads it, depending on where the reader is in her career and what cultural baggage each reader is dragging along with her. Sadly, some of the workplace situations (non family-friendly company policies) are ones that Lucy and Ann might have recognized, while others (too few women on corporate boards of directors) are what Twitter would deem “first world problems”—in other words, problems that you have once you’ve reached a fairly high level of advancement. Interestingly, Sandberg’s prescription is for women to “lean in” and invest themselves in creating change rather than fleeing the corporate world.

Funny, but I think Lucy and Ann—and those of us who had mothers in the post-War period who worked outside the home—already knew a lot about “leaning.” Here’s what Lucille Ball said: Luck? I don’t know anything about luck. I’ve never banked on it and I’m afraid of people who do. Luck to me is something else: Hard work – and realizing what is opportunity and what isn’t.”
What does this have to do with marketing? I believe that today’s under-40 workers, having grown up with moms like Ann Romano, and having seen their struggle, want more from their work life. That’s especially true for workers in their 20s and 30s, who are among the most entrepreneurial young workers we’ve seen a long time. To keep them, you’ve got to create a workplace where “leaning in” is expected and rewarded, and where trust, appreciation and flexibility combine to create a balance that is both productive and human-friendly. Workplace culture still has a long way to go on that point, but for the companies that do a good job, such a culture becomes a potent marketing factor.

And in the meantime, we’ll keep trying to find the balance and get it right—one day at a time.

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Filed under Balance, Business Planning, Gail Z. Martin

Tagged as "mommy wars", Big Dreams and Hard Work, DreamSpinner Communications, Gail Martin Marketing, Gail Z. Martin

by Gail Martin | May 28, 2013 · 9:32 am

Who’s Your Gladys? How to Turn Even the Most Difficult Customer into Your Biggest Fan

Today’s guest post is an excerpt from the bestselling business book by Marilyn Suttle and Lori Jo Vest, “Who’s Your Gladys? How to Turn Even the Most Difficult Customer into Your Biggest Fan” To celebrate the release of the paperback version, the authors are giving away free gifts with purchase here: www.whosyourgladys.com/paperbacklaunch

This excerpt from chapter 1 is based on interviews with Professional Movers, a world-class moving company located in Walled Lake, Michigan.

Eighty-seven-year-old Gladys has a reputation among her fellow retirement community members. She’s known as a cranky complainer who is impossible to please. But to her surprise, when she called Andrew Androff’s company, Professional Movers, to move her into her new apartment, she was treated with warmth and respect. When her sales rep, Chris, visited her home to quote the job, he noticed her prickly personality and made a conscious decision to focus on her spunk and tenacity. By the end of his visit, Gladys had bonded with Chris and booked the move.

On moving day, there was a mishap. One of the movers accidentally cracked Gladys’s marble tabletop. Andrew knew that she would be furious. Determined to set things right, he prepared himself to let her vent before she could even think about possible solutions. As predicted, Gladys had steam shooting out her ears.

Andrew felt compassion for her while she vented and assured her that his company would have the table repaired, and that if she wasn’t satisfied with the results, he would replace it. Although he continued to reassure her that things would be set right, she was still spitting mad. Gladys wanted to talk to Chris, who had sold her on the company in the first place, and Andrew promised to have Chris call her as soon as he came into the office.

Chris arrived dead tired after a long day filled with meetings with potential new customers. When Andrew told him about Gladys and asked if he’d be willing to call her, Chris responded, ‘‘No way. She’s going to need more than a phone call. I’ll stop by her house on my way home.’’ Chris arrived at Gladys’s house ready to comfort her through her anger and outrage. Then he assured her that he would personally oversee the repair of her table. This calmed her down, and she thanked him for coming over.

Unfortunately, the repair was less than perfect. Andrew knew that he had to set things right, even though doing so would be expensive. He called Gladys and promised that she could meet Chris at the marble store and personally pick out her new marble tabletop. Since Chris knew that Gladys didn’t drive, he called and arranged to pick her up and take her to the store himself.

Gladys is now living at one of metropolitan Detroit’s premier retirement communities with her new marble table. While it cost Andrew and his employee Chris extra time and extra money to make things right, the payoff was outstanding. Gladys tells everyone moving into or out of her assisted living complex that they have to hire Professional Movers if they want to work with the best movers in town. High and persistent praise from such a hard-to-please person attracts attention. As a result, Andrew’s company is now the number one choice of movers for Gladys’s retirement complex. By creating a culture that values compassionate connection with his customers, Andrew has built a referral base that has helped his sales grow by over 40 percent in two years.

This culture of connection has been particularly effective in building a strong business with senior citizens. Seniors often move from their homes to be nearer to their children or to retire to a senior community. Professional Movers has found this population to be a good fit for its particular style of customer service, so it put a great deal of effort into developing the market segment. Everyone at Professional Movers makes a practice of creating a human connection with her clients. The staff members show respect for their clients’ wisdom, experience, and opinions. They also know how moving affects their clients, both physically and emotionally. It isn’t easy leaving behind the security of their homes, their friendships with neighbors, and the familiarity of their routines. Andrew’s employees are trained to be sensitive to the unique issues of downsizing. They are sensitive to the emotional connection to their precious family heirlooms that senior citizens feel as they leave behind the past. Professional Movers strives to give seniors the sort of service they would receive if their own family were doing the job.

‘‘It’s like we’re their sons,’’ Andrew said with a laugh. ‘‘We get very close with their families. We interview their caregivers and their social workers. It really helps us develop a customized process to address their concerns.’’ This needs-based approach to both customer service and sales has helped the company become the top provider of moving services in metropolitan Detroit’s retirement market.

Enjoy “Who’s Your Gladys? How to Turn Even the Most Difficult Customer into Your Biggest Fan” – available at most online booksellers.

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Tagged as customer service, Marilyn Suttle, Who’s Your Gladys? How to Turn Even the Most Difficult Customer into Your Biggest Fan

by Gail Martin | April 17, 2013 · 9:42 am

Protect Your Brand: Easy Hands-On Ways to Manage Your Online Reputation

By Gail Z. Martin

I’ve talked about the networking value of recommendations on LinkedIn. Gathering online recommendations via LinkedIn is also a way to solidify your online branding and actively manage your reputation. Don’t be shy about asking former co-workers, bosses, colleagues and clients to provide a recommendation if you had a positive working experience with them. That’s part of the LinkedIn culture. You’ll want to make sure you have plenty of recommendations for your current role, but you may want to also actively seek out recommendations for prior roles to bolster your credibility and show the depth of your expertise.

Naymz.com is similar in some ways to LinkedIn (extensive profile, forums, online networking), but it goes further to help you actively manage your brand and reputation. Naymz has what it calls a “RepScore Ecosystem” where you aren’t just asking for a recommendation from former colleagues and clients; you’re asking for them to provide anonymous feedback on your honesty and ethics. Naymz also has its own “Reputation Monitor” to provide you with yet another stream of information regarding what’s been said about you online. Naymz also lets you know when your profile has been visited, although it does not tell you who checked you out.

What happens when a negative comment is posted on a ratings site and you can’t get it removed or retracted, but it’s not serious enough to sue for defamation? One tactic is to make the comment more difficult to find by increasing the searchability of other, more positive content. The Internet favors recent and highly targeted information, rewarding it by pushing it to the top of the search results. This pushes older content off the first pages of results, and few searchers bother to go more than one or two pages deep.

How do you do this? One tactic is to ask your clients and professional friends to add ratings of their own (you don’t have to disclose the reason behind your timing for the request). You can spiff up your Search Engine Optimization (SEO) on your most relevant sites, like your home page and your blog, assuring that they jump to the top of the search results. Or, you can hire a PR agency or reputation management firm to make positive posts on your behalf on a large enough number of sites that the sheer volume of new positive mentions pushes old copy off the first page of search results.

Use this last tactic (hired guns) with caution. Mobilizing actual clients, friends and even family to post genuine testimonials or positive reviews is still authentic and organic, even if you reminded them to do so. (Never offer rewards in exchange for positive comments.) Hiring people to manufacture testimonials is unethical, and you’ll be found out eventually, which will send your online reputation plummeting. If you do decide to use a publicist, a better tactic would be to post a wealth of factual, but positive, information (such as verifiable high satisfaction ratings or award announcements) or repeat testimonials or positive reviews from legitimate clients and reviewers. Just creating a blizzard of new, positive, highly relevant and keyword-optimized informative posts can go far to push down a negative review.

Yet another reputation management tactic involves making it difficult for anyone to create a profile or Web site using your name or products by claiming them yourself. Some people make it a practice to buy up all of the domain names available for their own name or their products, such as the .biz, .tv and other domain suffixes. This keeps cyber-squatters from purchasing these domains and attempting to sell them back to you later at an inflated cost, or using them to create fake sites purporting to be from you. If you consider this tactic, remember that you’ll have to pay domain registration fees annually, so buying up dozens of URLs that you never intend to use can get expensive.

If you don’t have the time to actively monitor and manage your reputation, there are companies that will do it for you. Some of these specialize in particular industries, such as hospitality or construction, while others serve a variety of business types. Services range from monitoring and reporting to assistance in handling complaints or dealing with malicious comments. Fees vary according to the services provided. If you decide to use a monitoring and response agency, do your homework before making a commitment, and check out the reputation of the company online before hiring them to work on your behalf. Some reputation management companies have been caught using unethical strong arm techniques against people who have posted legitimate complaints that were well within their constitutional rights. There’s a big different between hiring someone to help you keep an eye on what’s being said and employing cyber goons to intimidate or harass consumers who have merely stated their opinions. The best way to protect your online reputation is to always deal ethically, both online and offline. Keep your word, don’t overly hype your products, and deliver what you promise. If something goes wrong, do everything you can to make the situation right. You’re far better off putting effort into delighting customers and running a clean operation than to invest resources into cleaning up avoidable messes or attempting a cover-up. Nothing stays hidden for long in today’s online society. Honesty (and vigilance) are your best online reputation management tools.

Excerpted from 30 Days to Virtual Productivity Success by Gail Z. Martin

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Filed under Coaching, Gail Z. Martin

Tagged as Big Dreams and Hard Work, DreamSpinner Communications, Gail Martin Marketing, Gail Z. Martin

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Protect Your Brand: Easy Hands-On Ways to Manage Your Online Reputation

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