How committed are you to the cause?

Everyone is committed to something. We all have a cause, or purpose. Even if you choose not to commit to something, like a relationship, or a job, or a business, you are still committing to not commit.

The level of commitment you make to anything in life, will determine the level of success you achieve. It is a simple matter of fact. Commitment is a choice we are all faced with at some point.

However; today I want to share some thoughts to encourage anyone facing a challenging time with a project, business, or relationship.

Taking business as an example – It’s easy to make a commitment to branch out on your own when your pumped about the perks being your own boss entails, (five to ten years down the line) but it doesn’t look so pretty when you are a few months in, and things don’t seem to be growing as fast as you hoped they would.

So what do you do when you find yourself at a crossroad of:

Do you choose to carry on, or do you choose to give up?

Giving up is easy. To some it may seem like the safe option, but to others (like myself) giving up is a risk I am not prepared to take; and neither should you.

This doesn’t just apply to start up businesses, but to every kind of organization, project manager, marketing department, team, mother, family, friend and relationship.

In life circumstances have the tendency to cloud our judgement, and given their ability to change like the wind. It’s healthy to remind ourselves why we choose to commit to something way back when.

Some things in life take longer to grow than others, and like the good old sayings state:

“Rome wasn’t built in a day.” No matter how green the grass looks on the other side of your hill, it’s always greener where you water it.

Staying committed to the cause requires reflection, and determination to press through the challenging circumstances of life.

 

Quality ranks higher than SEO

I came a cross this article today, in Entrepreneur magazine that highlighted some of what I have already been talking to clients about for sometime.

Although we have yet to see the full impact of punishment for an over optimizing our sites, I believe we have seen a significant amount of movement since the arrival of Google Panda 3.2, back in January.

In the world of digital marketing, SEO and Link Building has been center stage for years now. In year of 2012 that won’t get you far. To stay in the game you must choose:

• Quality
• Freshness
• Context

To find out more, or if you need help putting together a new strategy for a campaign, or business that will drive you forward into 2013, why not get in touch by clicking here, and find out how I can help you.

Alternatively, check out my previous post on how to build a social organisation.

If you like this post, please feel free to share with your friends, and connect with me on Twitter @leemac85

Making new friends

Friendship can be a daunting process for anyone; let alone for growing business, in our social evolving world.

Today I thought that I would share three quick tips on how to build relationships, with your consumer online via your social media channels.

1. Be Real – no fakers, or haters please. I’m not suggesting ways to manipulate your consumers in any way shape, or form. If you are up front, and genuine then everyone knows where they stand, in order to appreciate, show value and respect.

2. Be a listener first, talker second – The simple recipe to making friends in any environment is simply to respond to what the other person is saying. Often listening helps, or looking for a common connector. Being real, and showing honest interest is a great way to start making friends online.

3. Be Bold – There are a few businesses out there that in my opinion that are still shying away from social media, and any of its relatives; in the hope that it will all blow away, and they don’t actually need to do anything about it. As I always say, this is far from happening any time soon, so get on it, and get talking! I understand making the first move can be daunting, but like the good old Nike ad says: “Just do it!”

You have to be a friend, in order to make a friend.

How to build a successful social organisation

Three thoughts on what it takes to build a social organisation:

1. Embrace collaboration

This is not the time to be a jack of all trades – unless you are extremely good at that role and have been practicing for some time. We must open ourselves up to the idea of working with other skilled professionals, and be secure in that choice, which co-insides with my philosophy; Soar with your strengths, and delegate your weakness.

Hot tip – If you haven’t already heard, let me be the first to introduce you to the rise of the freelance, and collaborator.

2. Choose leadership, over management

The difference between both is influence. The level of influence you have will determine the altitude of your team, company, brand, and organisation.

3. Nail your social strategy to the core of your business

Social media should not be a flirting thought by now. There should be no question on how important is Google+ – It is extremely important. If you want to be alive in a years time, (which is a generous amount of time) then make sure you take each of these three thoughts, and drill them deep into the centre of your organisation. Bolting them onto the side of your business will not work. These are core essentials, and relevant to anyone looking to build, or grow business in 2012.

It’s all about perspective

Have you seen this article in today’s news? ‘The reason Apple is crushing Google,’ I wonder who you would choose to work for given the choice?

Make yourself at home

Make yourself at home… In my culture, this is an endearing phrase used to welcome guests into ones home.

I wonder how many British businesses in total have truly grasped this concept of making their consumer feel right at home? After all without the consumer, there is no business. It’s not enough to set up shop, and demand money from your customers anymore. For too long chain stores have got away with pocketing our hard-earned cash without so much of a smile, or a thank you for your custom in return – and what’s worse is that for a long time, we, the British public put up with it!

…It’s worthwhile stating that when I say, at home, I mean at home in your shop, website, or office. The line between virtual, and physical presence has become a blur over the years, and what you put on the front-page of your website matters just as much what you put in the display of your shop window.

How are we making our customers feel at home? Technology, and the way we interact online has changed our culture in such a big way that we cannot afford to bombard our websites with forced speak, technical information, and confuse our customers with false advertising.

The way we communicate with our customers is a vital as communicating with your friend, or spouse. If we get things wrong, then we should be man enough to step up to the mark, and be honest enough to fix our mistakes.

Where more and more chains are folding on the high street, this is a perfect opportunity for smaller businesses to rise up to the challenge and really go the extra mile for the consumer. Not only will you build brand awareness, but you will build a growing customer retention, just by making them feel right at home.

Here are a few suggestions that will help us stay in business.

1. Say “Hello” with a smile – Whether in person, or via a 30 second video clip. Showing our white pearly teeth is a great way to let customers know that you are a business that values their custom.

2. Be clear always – Businesses that are built on this principle will stand the test of time. Transparency is key to the success of your tomorrow.

3. Be reliable –  We must say what we do, and do what we say. It’s as simple as that. With the shifting posts of government illustrating a perfect example that people lose faith in something that cuts deep corners, and doesn’t deliver. With lack of care and attention, consumers lose interest, and businesses fail.

The great thing about all three is that they can be applied across the board, from social media, to the shop floor. This is a friendly house keeping post for all business, and marketing departments.

If you would like help with developing a social strategy for your business, assistance in training, blogging, or help transforming your brand communications, then look no further. Get in touch with a freelance social savvy copywriter, right here, or leave your thoughts below.

Understanding why

What’s the why behind your life, work, career, business? We can solve 99% of our problems when we understand the purpose behind that area, relationship etc.

Why’s are so important – They run deeper than reason, and any of it’s associated interrogatives. They keep us grounded when the who, what, where and when’s in life are shaking. I wonder what your why’s in life are?

Three things about a why:

• Why brings stability
• Why adds purpose
• Why adds confidence

The more you give, the more you sell

This is a principle that many within the world of business are discovering more, and more. Funny thing is that this is something we have been learning in my church for years. It’s true, the more you give, the more blessed you will be.

Today I just want to challenge you, what are you going to give? I honestly believe that if you decide to be generous as a business, and sow seeds accordingly from the heart, then you will at some point see those seeds returned to you in abundance.

Sometimes those seeds may come back in a different way to what you would expect, but why not try it. Now that doesn’t mean that you should work for free, for an unlimited time. Let’s be wise about things here. If you put yourself on a plate for those in the world who are willing to walk all over you, to do just that, then they will do just that. However; don’t let those small percentages of put you off from being generous. You may think this chat is deep, and irrelevant to running an organization, or launching a marketing campaign, but I would suggest this is 100% relevant.

We know from the world of social that businesses today must have a heart, and in many ways become human; i.e. Have personality, use conversational language, and have a heart. So you see, the more you give, the more you will sell.

Guy Kawasaki recently launched his latest e-book, ‘What the Google’ in partnership with Samsung, and in the process of self publishing he told The Social Hour, he’d given away 5,000 free copies. He went on to comment how in past tense publishers would have been telling him how crazy he was, for giving so much away for free. Yet, he also added that in doing just his sales have increased significantly. “It’s a funny thing,” he said. Well, not really. This principle of sowing and reaping has been around for sometime – It’s just now those who are applying the principle are starting to see the return, and sharing it with the world.

The fine line between work and personal

Gap’s new social media policy: The “OMG guess what happened at work” guide has been released by the brands social media team, in-house, in the hope to re-gain some brand buzz, with the help of fellow GAP employees.

The e-guide distributed amongst Gap staff, titled “OMG guess what happened at work,” encourages employees to participate in social media, whilst keeping the companies best interests in mind. Outlining a few simple housekeeping rules, even the warnings were kept informal:

“These guidelines are important—because if you don’t follow them a few things could happen: your posts can get deleted, we could lose customers and investors, we could get in trouble, or, worst of all, you could even lose your job … So do the right thing, stick to the guidelines.”

Whilst I am all for companies embracing social media, throwing out the robot speak, and encouraging the whole team to get on board. I understand that that is what it takes for any social media strategy to really work.

I do not support this idea that companies can control what employees decide to share, or talk about on their personal social media profiles separate to work. I hope that Gap is providing the relevant employees with social media accounts.

In the words of Seth Godin, “The industrial revolution is over.”

I understand that if we are employed by a company to work, then we should be respectful of what we do in that time; However, if a company would like to encourage employees to speak about them on Facebook, Linkedin, or any other social network, and hand out pre-warning of job loss for misuse, then it is only fair that employees are given work accounts, separate to their personal profile as standard practice.

In the same light employees are expected to be mindful of company interests at work and to a certain extent out with working hours, then companies should be expected to respect their employee’s personal space too. This is a line that is too often smudged.

There has to be boundaries, and if you are an employee I would certainly be asking questions before you sign a contract.

Here are a few basic and initial questions Gap employees should be asking:

• Will you provide me with a work email address, or log in details for a work Facebook/Twitter account?
• What exactly is classed as misuse?
• Can I have a copy of that policy?

Find out more, here.

How good are your Macaroons?

Does your product or service stand the test of time? I purchased these macaroons on special order from John Lewis, who kindly shipped some in from their magic storehouse of magic goodies, just waiting to be dispatched.

Tasty looking, right? Well, if you like biting in to freeze dried maltersar like sweets, then yes. I however; was less impressed. The whole purpose of me buying these rainbow looking treats, spun out of my friend’s doggy bag, which she transported home from a very special wedding, with a very special chef on hand to whip up some French macaroons.

Now I could be way off here, but I’m told the chef was very particular to introduce them as’French macaroons’, which are no ordinary macaroon; and certainly after sampling both, I would have to agree.

Given the influx in information, and choice out there, how good is your product or service? Would you fall under the average macaroon, or ‘the french macaroon’ category.

I have asked myself the same question. What is so different about The Social Exchange Blog to the other 174 million blogs out there? In this instance the answer has to be, me! Not because I wish to puff myself up, but because I am the sole author of this blog and I am unique in every way; just as you are. Without conflicting today’s post can I encourage you not to become a carbon copy. It is good to be influenced by those further down the track, and to choose those influences wisely; but there is no one else that can write like you, talk like you, or think like you. Remember this when you come to sell your product, or service. We don’t need everyone to buy into our product. At least not at the expense of changing everything about who we are, and what we stand for?

Sounds like some kind of rebel message, right? Not so. I’ll leave you with these burning questions:

What’s the french on your macaroon? Are you delivering what you have always intended? How good are your macaroons, actually?