The client wanted a presentation that could be used as both a trade show presentation and also as a sales CD. We created an interactive CD with a high-end intro. The CD could be given out on sales calls and at shows. We also provided the client with a show master that would loop the introduction until used to walk a customer/prospect through the rest of the CD. After a minute, if the presentation wasn’t used, it would go back to the looping introduction. View the presentation introduction
What I learned from Twitter this morning
It’s 6:49 am and I’ve been scanning my Twitter feed with CNN on the TV in the background.
I use Twitter to primarily follow web designers, application developers and SEO experts, with a small dose of news sources and random other hobbies and interests. By scanning through my Twitter feed I learn of new tools and techniques in my industry.
Here’s what I’ve learned from Twitter:
- From @smashingmag: How other digital designers are using Fireworks – (one of my favorite tools). In reviewing this post I realize there are techniques I can try that will make me more efficient in my daily workflow. The post also made me want to upgrade to CS5.
- 10 reasons why business card size matters. Some interesting design samples — it’s always inspirational to look at other designer’s work.
- From @1stwebdesigner: 10 tips for designing better infographics. Insights into making a better bar graphes, pie charts, etc. Some good pointers.
- From @catswhocode a Black Cat Rescue Shelter in the Boston area. Black cats are less likely to be adopted. People are weird. Beautiful black cat featured available for adoption. Hope he finds a good home.
- From @ZarkoCompare – Link building guide from the Bliss SEO blog. (Found the color scheme of the website hard to read)
- From @Biz: Large, slow moving plane video. (okay this one was a waste of time)
- From @CNN: Senate blocks vote on jobs bill
- From @CNNMoney: Foreign buyers scooping up US homes.
Here’s what been on TV this morning:
Gadhafi’s dead, Gadhafi’s Dead, Gadhafi’s dead… Jackson’s doc on trial. 7 billionth baby
Who do you follow? What’s in your Twitter feed?
Do a Little House Cleaning Before You Invite Guests
Most of us wouldn’t invite people into our homes unless it was clean. Well the same can be said for a social media campaign. If you’re planning on a campaign to get fans, communicate to your customers/prospects or announce a special promotion, be sure that all the tools you’re using are up to par.
I recently had a customer who wanted to get more fans on their FaceBook page and then drive them to their website. The problem was that they hadn’t finished creating a FaceBook profile and their site was sorely in need of an update. We worked with them to update these tools before the social media campaign to ensure the impression they wanted to leave was consistent wherever the viewer went.
Here are some pointers when planning your on-line campaign…
Website
- Make sure it’s easy to contact you – a phone number up front would be ideal
- Provide good content that your “audience” would be interested in
- Make sure the navigation is clear and information can be easily found
- Use imagery that gives the impression you’re going for – this applies to design and photos
- Update, update, update – give people a reason to return to your site
Social Media Page (Facebook, Linked-In, etc.)
- Create a company page to separate your personal page from your business
- Make sure your page reflects the rest of your branding
- Keep communications professional
- Don’t sell at people – establish yourself as an expert or give them an incentive to try out your product or service
- Update, update, update – give them a reason to become a fan or follower
The bottom line…before you invite people to “like you” make sure there’s something to like.
Blithering passwords
I imagine when the dementia starts to set in a few years down the road, I’ll just start blithering passwords. It seems everything I do is password related. Email, Twitter, Facebook, online accounts, pin numbers. Sometimes it gets to be too much, and like most people, I occasionally get a little lazy and use a weak password.
Earlier this week, I realized that someone was posting as me on my Twitter account. Unfortunately, instead of posting valuable information, they were posting links to material I didn’t want to promote, so I deleted their posts and changed my password. And hopefully anyone who follows my Twitter account didn’t really think I was promoting get-rich work-at-home schemes. The incident forced me to re-evaluate my password strategy. So now, my passwords are longer and have more *&%^ characters and will be changed more often. Below are some other practices I will follow and recommend.
Five best password practices
- Change your passwords often.
- Make them hard to guess. Use at least 8 characters in your password. Don’t use words or names, use a nonsensical set of characters
- Make them hard to find. If you must record them (and you will unless you have a better memory than most) put them in a secure location — not on a sticky note on your computer monitor. If you store them electronically on your computer — make sure they are not accessible. Lock them up whether paper or electronic based.
- Don’t use the same password on all your accounts.
- Don’t share your password with other people. Don’t email your password. If you must have your password emailed to you because you forgot it, change it as soon as you log in.
What is a QR code?
Have you seen the QR Codes popping up everywhere? There’s even one on my bank statement. Do you know what they are? How to use them or how to get one?
According to Wikepedia and other online sources, QR (Quick Response) Codes were developed for tracking parts in Japanese auto industry. But in recent years the codes have seen widespread use for marketing products and businesses.
How does it work? Smartphone users scan the code and have instant access to your website, contact information or other information. You can create a QR code at a number of online sources and it can contain, a url, phone number, text or SMS. To read it, a smartphone with a bar code reader is required. I downloaded the free app called Quickcode for my Android. When I scan a code containing a URL, I have several options. I can go directly to the website, bookmark the website, send the address to someone via email, or post the address to Facebook or Twitter. (Remember to optimize your website design for smartphones if you use QR codes to send folks to your website.) If the code were a phone number, I could call the number or save to my contacts. Or the code could be a text message that would be instantly readable.
Here are a couple of websites where you can create your code:
You can also create a code with a graphic – like the one to the right…
So how might you use this QR codes in your marketing?
- Put it on print ads and send folks directly to a product page where they can purchase a specific item
- Put it on product packaging and link to installation or operation instructions
- Use on your business card, brochure, or advertising and map your store location
- Send to a location with a free download or coupon
- Send a text message
- Phone number
- Other ideas?
For more information about how to use QR codes, please see this excellent article http://www.socialmediaexaminer.com/how-qr-codes-can-grow-your-business/.
E-mail safety tips – avoid phishing scams
If you’re like me you’ve done business with at least one of these companies:
TiVo, Walgreens, US Bank, Disney, JPMorgan Chase, Capital One, Citi, Home Shopping Network, McKinsey & Company, Ritz-Carlton Rewards, Marriott Rewards, New York & Company, Brookstone, or The College Board.
These are just some of the companies whose email lists were exposed earlier this week, when Epsilon, the world’s largest email marketing firm was hacked. Fortunately, the security breach was limited to email addresses and names, and not more sensitive information, like credit card numbers, or social security numbers. But the breach warrants a reminder to be diligent in processing your email.
Imagine I’m a bad guy…
I’ve hacked into Epsilon and have obtained hundreds of thousands of email addresses for, let’s say, Capitol One customers. Now I just build a website page that looks like a Capitol One website page, create an email that looks like it originates from Capitol One, send it to the thousands of Capitol One clients and wait for innocent victims to log into my website with their Capitol Once username and password. Now I have all I need to log into the victim’s real account and steal their sensitive information, their reputation and their money.
It’s called Phishing. The practice where bad guys send emails claiming to be a a reputable company to unknowing customers in order to lure them into providing sensitive information.
We’ve all received phishing messages. They’re mixed in with the hundreds of emails many of us process daily. Processing email takes time and it’s a job that we may rush through, but it’s critical that we think before responding to email and be absolutely certain that the sender of the email is legitimate.
As you process your email, remember…
- Never click through to a website that claims it needs you to verify your password.
- Be suspicious of any email requesting your password or sensitive information. Reputable companies will not randomly email you asking for sensitive information.
- If you receive an email from a company and you’re not sure if it’s legitimate, do not follow the link in the website, instead go directly to the website you know to be real or call the company to inquire about the request.
More about Phishing at and about email safety in general at WiredSafety.org.
Web Savvy Marketers at the CT Business Expo
We will be at the CT Business Expo on June 9, 2011. This is an expo that The Hartford Business Journal holds each year. We did a walk through last year and were so impressed that we decided to exhibit this year. Come see us at booth #416. In addition, I’m on an educational panel called “Sales for Non-Sales People”. It’s a 45 minute interactive presentation to be held from 2:30-3:15. As many of you know, I enjoy selling – even the dreaded “cold call”. Stop by and see if we can inspire you to embrace your inner sales person.
I Gave Myself A Snow Day
Another snowy morning in Connecticut, another day of rescheduled meetings. As a result, I had two hours of morning time unaccounted for, which turned out to be a wonderful gift.
I made a cup of tea, built a fire in the fireplace (actually, I just turned on the gas jet), and settled in with Jane Pollak’s book Soul Proprietor: 101 Lessons from a Lifestyle Entrepreneur.
While reading “Lesson 79: Design your business to financially and mentally support your time off” something clicked for me. I enjoy being self-employed! I love it that I didn’t have to “go in to work” on a snowy morning, or call my boss to say I’d be there late because I’m such a chicken driver, or worry about making up the time. My business does support my time off–mentally, anyway. (The financial part is a different issue, but that’s for another time.)
So, thanks, Jane, for reminding me how much I like being a soul proprietor. And thanks, Ms. Weatherperson, for giving me the time to reflect and realize that. And thanks, Nancy, for having the courage to do it your own way.
How about you other sole/soul proprietors? What do you love about being self-employed?
Social Networking IS Your On-Line Referral
I had a meeting last week with a potential client that sells to consumers. We spoke a little about social networking (ie: FaceBook, Linked-In, etc.) He made it very clear that he had no interest in doing anything in that realm. He then went on to tell me a story about a customer that would only purchase his product once they found someone they knew who was using it and happy with it. They had checked the company’s references, and although they were all very good, it wasn’t until they spoke with someone they knew that they decided the product was good for them.
This is an example of social networking, except that it was done over the phone instead of the computer. Now, imagine you could create this kind of referral that would go out to many people instead of just the person on the other end of the phone. That is what social networking can do for you.
Networking Isn’t a Dirty Word!
I remember when I first started my own business and began attending networking events. I was so overwhelmed by the number of people who would tell me that I needed what they had for sale in spite of the fact that they hadn’t taken the time to find out anything about me and what my needs were. On occasion, I would meet someone who would ask me what I did, tell me about their company and talk about a way we could work together. They are the people who I still work with today after several years because we have a relationship.
The same problem occurs with on-line networking. Some people see it as another place to advertise their business. Too often, people use social networking groups to promote their business when they should be building relationships. It’s like any networking group. If people are genuinely interested in helping each other succeed, everyone wins. However, if everyone is just selling at each other, the group won’t last and no one will benefit.
Remember, no matter how you network, be it on-line or in-person, the important thing to remember is that people want to work with and buy from someone they trust and with whom they have a relationship. Approach it any other way and although you might get the initial sale, the chances of retaining the customer are poor.
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