Lorraine Ball

I found this really cool map on Small Fuel Marketing which explains how and why blogs have so much marekting potential. There’s a ton of information out there, but this helps organize and explain some of it.

For more details, and lots of links to other great resources, check out the full article.

Like many marketers, I loved Malcolm Gladwell’s explanation of the how ideas and trends move through society. His law of the few suggests that rare, highly connected people shape the world. The idea there exist a handful of Influential people who can have huge impact on the acceptance of an idea was appealing on two levels.

1) It certainly simplified my job. If I could find the Influential People for a given product category, I could concentrate marketing efforts, and let them carry the message forward.

2) And, I kind of considered myself an Influential, so it fed my ego … just a little

Then along comes this thought provoking article in Fast Company magazine about Duncan Watts who believes a trend depend on timing and societal readiness to accept the given trend. If those elements are in place, anyone can start a trend.

Watt’s research indicates influential people may effectively move a trend further; they are no more likely to start the trend.

Darn, just when I thought I had it figured out. But the more I thought about it, the more I believe he may be right. As an example, I look at the growth of Rainmakers, Indy’s most viral biz association. While we grew initially on the personality and influence of a handful of well connected people, today it is a virus spread by what Watts would call the accidental influential.

So read the article, then tell me what you think,

Accidents happen! But even minor mishaps can be major catastrophes for small business owners. Every year, thousands of companies are unprepared for the interruption caused by a minor fire, flood, and burglary or computer meltdown.  According to a recent NFIB National Small Business Poll, man-made disasters affect 10% of small businesses, and natural disasters have impacted more than 30% of all small businesses in the USA.  

Creating, and implementing a Business Continuity Plan will ensure your business survives any disaster!

More…

As a networking junkie I thought I had seen it all, till Ron Sukenic sent me this funny example of truely bad networking!

 Thanks for the laugh Ron -  http://imseminarschedule.com/?p=18

As a confirmed networking junkie, I am always looking for my next fix. My new fix is LinkedIn.   An on-line social network, Linkedin is often described as FaceBook for professionals.  With an emphasis on career history, educational background and association membership, Linkedin has millions of members, with thousands more joining each day.

The rules of the web are changing.   Key words and meta tags are no longer enough to drive traffic to the website for your small business. .  The search engines are getting smarter and they are looking for real, relevant and timely content. 

 Constant updates to your website can be difficult, expensive, and impractical, but incorporating a blog as part of your site will accomplish the same thing. 

I found this article on a Brittish website with ten basic rules if you are going to build your own blogging stratgey.   http://www.the-escape.co.uk/reference/blogging-tips/

What wins at Wimbledon wins at your local chamber. Watch a tennis match; the goal is to make contact with the ball and knock it back over the net !In tennis if the ball remains on one side of the net too long, there is a greater chance it will dribble off to the side and the opponent will score the point. In networking conversations, the same is true. The longer you are talking the greater the risk your listener will become bored.  And just as the ball will roll off the court, so will your business opportunity.   

So How Do You Win a Networking Volley?   – Keep the image of a tennis match in your mind and use questions to “return the serve.”  Almost any open ended question will keep the conversations rolling. Here are a few of my favorites:  What do you do? – How did you get started?  – What is the most interesting project or customer you have worked with recently?  – Who would you like to meet?  Use these questions to gain a sense of their business, key clients, and to identify points of common interest.   

Don’t Sell at a Networking Event - Many people make the mistake of trying to “sell” at a networking event. People can tell when you are in selling mode, and will try to end the conversation quickly. When you are in selling mode, you are more likely to keep talking and miss the cues which will help you identify the very best prospects. Networking conversations are introductory conversations; the more you learn about the other person in a short conversation, the easier it will be to decide if this is someone with whom you want to have a longer conversation!  In networking if you can really make a great connection; you’ve won the match.  Want to learn more about networking?  Order a copy of Confessions of a Networking Junkie by Lorraine Ball

In an article posted by the Marketing Buzz  the author presents a fairly compelling argument for why blogs and articles should be a part of every small business maketing plan in today’s wired world.  Presenting the 70/30 rule which states  70% of visitors to a search engine select a free listing rather than a paid for listing.  The result?  Even if you run highly successful pay per click campaigns two thirds of people searching for your product/company/service will go elsewhere unless you also appear in the free listings.

And articles, blog posting and other on-line news sources are a great way to increase you visiblity in organic searches!  Do you need help devleoping or executing your on-line visiblity?  Roundpeg can help! 

In a brief, but entertaining article, Linda Riely, shares her frustrations of being misunderstood when she speaks email jargon.  As I was reading it, I realized, her main point was valid in any industry. 

Read the article:http://www.clickz.com/showPage.html?page=3627558 

You return home after a networking event and empty your pockets, putting the business cards you collected onto the desk. What comes next?  If you are one of those people who organize them in neat piles, tied with a rubber band and a promise to get to them someday, just toss them in the trash!   Why – because people have a short memory.

What did you have for lunch? Be honest, do you remember what you had for lunch three days ago?  I bet you don’t.  And yet the interaction you had with you lunch was significantly more intimate, than the conversation you had at the networking event. So if you can’t remember what you ate three days ago, how can you expect someone to remember you a week later? When you come home from a networking event, you have 24 – 48 hours to follow up.  After that it is too late!  No one said this was easy.  Networking is work!  

Choose a few Great ConnectionsIf you have met quite a few people, sort through the cards, select one or two with whom you want to follow-up. Send an email or better yet a hand written card within 48 hours.  The note does not have to be long.  It should however, remind the person where you met, and open the door for a future conversation.   When evaluating with whom you want to follow up and stay in touch, think about what you can do for them.  Be fair, if you can’t see yourself ever referring any business their way, don’t waste their time or yours cultivating the relationship.

What Makes Good Follow Up? If you were asking good questions and really listening during your brief networking conversation, you probably have a few ideas.  Consider an article on a topic of interest or an electronic introduction to someone you think they should meet.  Do not use this first contact after a networking event as an opportunity for a sales pitch:

“Hi, I enjoyed meeting you and by the way if you are looking for____.” That not-so-subtle approach says “I am not really interested in you, unless you want to buy something.”  An experienced networker knows it may take a few conversations to move to the sale mode, but when you get there, you have a greater chance of success.

Want to learn more about networking?  Order a copy of Confessions of a Networking Junkie by Lorraine Ball