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Showing posts with label Blogging. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Blogging. Show all posts
Friday, July 31, 2009
Thursday, July 23, 2009
Let's Celebrate: 200th Post!! Also, It's Moving Day!
Taking a page from some of my blogging colleagues, I wanted to celebrate and thank all my readers. This is my 200th blog post.
Before I go on, part of the celebration is to announce that we're moving. The new location and link for our blog is:
Making A Difference.
For those of you that want to see it "spelled out," the new location is: http://partnersinexcellenceblog.com
Please update your feeds, readers, or links. I want to make sure you can continue to follow us. After this post, all my future updates will be at the new site. The new site, also has the complete archive of past posts and comments.
Reflections On Blogging:
I started actively blogging about September of 2008 and really kicked it into a higher gear in January. At the time, I was really worried that I could write anything -- at least on a regular basis -- that people would find interesting or valuable. I still am amazed when I get great comments from people who have read a post and are motivated to express their views and opinions. It is both flattering and ego building to see some of the fantastic responses.
One of the things that I have learned about blogging, is that I probably get more out of this process than you, the reader. There is so much that I get out of blogging:
Before I go on, part of the celebration is to announce that we're moving. The new location and link for our blog is:
Making A Difference.
For those of you that want to see it "spelled out," the new location is: http://partnersinexcellenceblog.com
Please update your feeds, readers, or links. I want to make sure you can continue to follow us. After this post, all my future updates will be at the new site. The new site, also has the complete archive of past posts and comments.
Reflections On Blogging:
I started actively blogging about September of 2008 and really kicked it into a higher gear in January. At the time, I was really worried that I could write anything -- at least on a regular basis -- that people would find interesting or valuable. I still am amazed when I get great comments from people who have read a post and are motivated to express their views and opinions. It is both flattering and ego building to see some of the fantastic responses.
One of the things that I have learned about blogging, is that I probably get more out of this process than you, the reader. There is so much that I get out of blogging:
- Blogging is a terrific stress reliever. Some months ago, I was being interviewed
and was asked, "When do you blog?" I think the reporter was looking for what
time of day. My response was, "When I get pissed off!" I blog at other times, as
well, but sometimes when I see something that doesn't make sense, getting it off
my chest by writing an article is really helpful. Blogging is certainly cheaper
than a shrink! - Blogging enables me to use a wide audience as a sounding
board for new ideas that I am considering. I get such wonderful feedback---both
positive and negative---that really helps me clarify my thinking, so that I can
continue to build my value to you and to our clients. I can think of no other
way to get the quality of feedback, as quickly, than through the blog. - Blogging has caused me to expand my horizons, in preparing new articles, I
am really influenced by the great articles many of you write. They help me think
about issues differently, even shifting my positions on a number of issues (God
forbid I admit that my position may not have been an astute position.) - Blogging/Social Media has enabled me to "meet" such interesting people. I
have gotten to meet, exchange ideas, and build business with people I might
never have reached in the past. It has helped to open a whole new world of
relationships. - Blogging builds and drives business, this shouldn't be a surprised, but people get to know me before contacting us. It makes it easier
for us to build a great business relationship.
Thanks to all of you for your contributions and support!
Join me in our new home, keep engaging in the discussion. Remember, adjust your feeds, readers, bookmarks to our new location:
Making A Difference.
Again, here it is all "spelled out," http://partnersinexcellenceblog.com
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
Stupid Twitter (and Social Media) Tricks
Many of you know I'm very enthusiastic about Twitter. I believe it has potential to be a very powerful tool for business professionals. Right now, we are just scratching the surface of potential applications.
I'm seeing people use it in very clever ways for competitive and market insight. I read stories of amazing customer service (though one wonders why people had to resort to Twitter to get action and why the normal channels of customer service do not work). Through Twitter, I've met people I would never have had the opportunity to reach before. Our twitter relationships have expanded and we have great telephone conversations, and yes---even drive new business.
While the business I've developed is not yet large, it has covered the investment I have made in tweeting. And this does not even begin to count the value of the new relationships I am developing.
However, any easy tool like Twitter, with virtually no barriers to entry from a cost point of view, stimulates some of the most bizarre behaviors and results.
The thing that has set me off now is this whole debate on Followers and Following. I just was followed by someone. I went to this individual's profile: This person is following 1473 and being followed by 1213. This individual has the grand total of 1 tweet.
Are people following this person because of the tremendous content they are providing? Is this person being followed by the quality of the pithy comments and observations? Is the person being followed by interest in the profile provided?
Undoubtedly, not, it is the Twitter practice of "auto-follow." So what result does this produce --- this individual can brag about their 1000 + followers (Maybe I'm displaying a little bit of follower envy---for months I have been organically building my following of 492 as of this writing.) But is this an audience the person really wants to reach, will relationships be initiated and built? Will business result?
What about the followers, what do they get out of it? Are they now the proud recipients of the electronic analog of : Dear Occupant??? I always try to focus my followership to people who provide interesting commentary that I can use (either professionally or personally). I have this strange quirk, I don't like junk mail, spam, or wasting my time --- maybe I'm different from the rest of the community.
One of the problems with Twitter and many of the other Social Media communications vehicles is the relatively low cost of entry (discounting the person's time), creates a vast wasteland of meaningless, self promotional drivel. The problem is, it makes it difficult for all of us to find meaningful content. We waste more time, leverage more tools (this is great for tools developers, tools filtering through the junk). It makes it harder for me to use these channels--both for marketing and for insight.
I'm not sure there is any resolution to this. But I certainly understand when I talk to business clients and they have trouble seeing the value of many of these new channels. I understand their reluctance to invest in it, because at the same time, they have to invest in navigating through the mountains of crap.
Anyway, I'm done with whining. For a more substantive set of tips on the use of Twitter (whine free), visit my friend Niall Devitt's blog. He has done a couple of thoughtful commentaries on his use of Twitter.
I'm seeing people use it in very clever ways for competitive and market insight. I read stories of amazing customer service (though one wonders why people had to resort to Twitter to get action and why the normal channels of customer service do not work). Through Twitter, I've met people I would never have had the opportunity to reach before. Our twitter relationships have expanded and we have great telephone conversations, and yes---even drive new business.
While the business I've developed is not yet large, it has covered the investment I have made in tweeting. And this does not even begin to count the value of the new relationships I am developing.
However, any easy tool like Twitter, with virtually no barriers to entry from a cost point of view, stimulates some of the most bizarre behaviors and results.
The thing that has set me off now is this whole debate on Followers and Following. I just was followed by someone. I went to this individual's profile: This person is following 1473 and being followed by 1213. This individual has the grand total of 1 tweet.
Are people following this person because of the tremendous content they are providing? Is this person being followed by the quality of the pithy comments and observations? Is the person being followed by interest in the profile provided?
Undoubtedly, not, it is the Twitter practice of "auto-follow." So what result does this produce --- this individual can brag about their 1000 + followers (Maybe I'm displaying a little bit of follower envy---for months I have been organically building my following of 492 as of this writing.) But is this an audience the person really wants to reach, will relationships be initiated and built? Will business result?
What about the followers, what do they get out of it? Are they now the proud recipients of the electronic analog of : Dear Occupant??? I always try to focus my followership to people who provide interesting commentary that I can use (either professionally or personally). I have this strange quirk, I don't like junk mail, spam, or wasting my time --- maybe I'm different from the rest of the community.
One of the problems with Twitter and many of the other Social Media communications vehicles is the relatively low cost of entry (discounting the person's time), creates a vast wasteland of meaningless, self promotional drivel. The problem is, it makes it difficult for all of us to find meaningful content. We waste more time, leverage more tools (this is great for tools developers, tools filtering through the junk). It makes it harder for me to use these channels--both for marketing and for insight.
I'm not sure there is any resolution to this. But I certainly understand when I talk to business clients and they have trouble seeing the value of many of these new channels. I understand their reluctance to invest in it, because at the same time, they have to invest in navigating through the mountains of crap.
Anyway, I'm done with whining. For a more substantive set of tips on the use of Twitter (whine free), visit my friend Niall Devitt's blog. He has done a couple of thoughtful commentaries on his use of Twitter.
Tuesday, June 02, 2009
Top Sales Expert Sales Community
Top Sales Experts Is Building THE Most Significant WorldwideSales Community on the Internet. I've been one of the "experts" in this group and gotten great value out of the associations I have developed in the organization. I'd like to invite you to join.
Here is some interesting data about TSE:
- 64: the number of experts committed to your success -- well 63 experts and me.
- 1500: the number of years of experience our experts bring you.
- 2200: the number of articles you’ll find in our Article Vault--including many from our website and a few that we have not published at the website.
- 100: the number of Masterclasses you can attend.
- 200: the number of “How To” guides you’re able to access.
- 100: the number of Podcasts you can download.
- 12: the number of Roundtables you can attend this year
- $30,000: the dollar value of all of all of these products.
- 30: the number of Sales Blogs from which you can choose, mine included.
- 30: the number of days in your Free Trial.
- $25: the dollar investment to be part of something this big.(No, It’s not a typo.
$25. Crazy, huh?)
Life is about choices. So are sales. There are a couple of options for you to join in the discussion.
OPTION A: Register for FREE and you get access to:
- The Article Vault (2200 articles)
- How to Guides• Podcasts
- Best Sales Blogs in the World
- Newsletter
- Jobs Board
- Shop
- 25% Discount on all Webinars (usually $59.50)
- 25% Discount on Roundtables (usually $99.50)
OPTION B: The VIP Zone:$49.50 per year OR $25.00 if you join us through a TSE team member, like me. You will also receive:
- FREE Masterclass Registrations
- FREE Roundtable Registrations
- FREE TSE Quarterly eBooks
- FREE TSE Assessment Tools
- FREE access to “Ask the Experts”
- FREE Invitation to join the TSE LinkedIn group
- PLUS 10% Discount on all purchases from the new TSE Shop, which will debut in July...
- And... We’ll even give you a 30 day FREE trial.
BONUS: With every monthly TSE Newsletter, you will get a $100.00 gift.
or
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
Getting Back In The Game
I've been terribly remiss in keeping this blog updated --- there are always excuses that one can use to avoid writing. Over the past weeks, I've been collecting all sorts of ideas, but not committing the time to write and post.
I've made up my mind to catch up and recommit. To those who read this blog and have been wondering where I am, I'm back and starting to post. Thanks for hanging in there, I look forward to your continued comments and feedback
Wednesday, August 01, 2007
Learning To Blog
I have a fear of writing to no one but myself. At the same time, I am eager to explore the world of blogging. It's a bit a of a funny feeling, being definitely a late adopter.
I actually started this a two years ago, as a complement to my company's website. For a few months, I actually posted articles and thoughts. However, it was really a struggle, it didn't feel right. To some degree it felt too preachy and arrogant. I also wondered, how did the blog fit with the business oriented website at http://www.excellenc.com/. So I dropped it.
Lately, I have been struggling with how to restart. Probably thinking about it too much and not actually trying and learning by my mistakes. So, borrowing from Nike's old tag line, I decided it was time to "Just Do It."
I apologize for my mistakes, I welcome your comments, advice and help. It is important to start building a community that we can learn from each other and contribute. Thanks for joining in, the adventure begins........
I actually started this a two years ago, as a complement to my company's website. For a few months, I actually posted articles and thoughts. However, it was really a struggle, it didn't feel right. To some degree it felt too preachy and arrogant. I also wondered, how did the blog fit with the business oriented website at http://www.excellenc.com/. So I dropped it.
Lately, I have been struggling with how to restart. Probably thinking about it too much and not actually trying and learning by my mistakes. So, borrowing from Nike's old tag line, I decided it was time to "Just Do It."
I apologize for my mistakes, I welcome your comments, advice and help. It is important to start building a community that we can learn from each other and contribute. Thanks for joining in, the adventure begins........
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