Radish Sprouts

PRACTICAL BUSINESS ACTIONS TO SURVIVE AND THRIVE

Join me at my May 8, 2009 seminar ‘Practical Business Actions to Survive and Thrive in Tough Times” sponsored by the Sustainable Business Group.  I offer suggestions to help you and your company successfully weather this economic debacle.  Registration and coffee begin at 8:30 am, seminar from 9:00 am to 11:00 am at The World Trade Center, 1625 Broadway, Suite 820, Denver. Free of charge. Please RSVP by May 5 to Kathleen Flynn 303 592-4062 or [email protected]

Here is a description of this seminar, which is part of "Toward a Sustainable Future" Business Education Series.

Many Americans are more pessimistic about their situation now than they have been in more than a quarter-century. What can you do about the current economic situation so it does not negatively impact your company any more than it already has? Many of the most successful people and organizations today have a clear approach in their attitudes and actions specifically designed for these difficult times. Sales and marketing play an important role in helping a business thrive in tough times, as does overall leadership of the firm.  Research reveals the key strategic actions which have helped companies succeed during past economic downturns.  Come learn what actions business leaders must take now to promote the best possible results in this downturn.  Case studies of firms that have proactively acted and produced great results will be discussed.  Explore how to apply these actions in your company through an interactive exercise. 

This session will address the following key issues:

• What actions help firms survive and thrive in tough times
• What are the top things you should do now
• How can you justify these actions with a strong ROI 

As a successful entrepreneur, consultant, and Gazelles® business coach, I deliver a set of unique tools, you can immediately apply to your bottom-line advantage. The take-aways include practical ideas on how to apply this to your organization. 

See you on May 8th.

Theresa Szczurek (www.TMSworld.com and www.PursuitofPassionatePurpose.com) 

CREATING A WORLD WIDE RAVE

Think of the the last time you were in a stadium -- perhaps during a football game or perhaps at a Fourth of July celebration. Did you experience a crowd wave?  One person starts it, others catch on and spread the action, and before you know the entire crowd is standing up at the appropriate time with the wave moving around the stadium. In a similar manner, you can create an even larger wave for your message by reaching people online.

 

David Meerman Scott, author of World Wide Rave, spoke recently about leveraging social media tools to reach buyers and grow your business at the Fortune Smalll Business Sales and Marketing Summit in New Orleans hosted by Gazelles International.  Rather than buy advertising, beg for media coverage, pay an army of sales people, you can get attention by using 'word of mouse.'   Create something valuable that people want to share and make it easy for them to share it.

 

Case Study.  Consider how the Harry Potter Universal Park was launched.  In a secret session, Cindy Gordon, the marketing maven for the park, told seven of the most popular Harry Potter bloggers in a secret session, they blogged about it, other blogs picked it up and people started emailing, the message moved into the main media.  In 24 hours, 350M people knew about the launch.

 

Practical Pointers.  Here are a few 'rules of the rave' about effectively using new media

 

·                     Remember what Yoda said, "You must unlearn what you've learned."  The new approach is to earn attention by publishing web content and other information. Think like a publisher utilizing a range of onlline media such as blogs, micro-blogs, websites, video posting outlets, and more.  Online you are what you publish.

·                     Don't talk and market to nameless faceless prospects.  Determine who you are trying to reach and create white papers, e-books, videos, contests, and more that this audience finds interesting because it solves their problems.  Make those deliverables FUME -- fun, unique, memorable, and educational / entertaining.

·                     Lose control.  Make your valuable online information totally free and freely sharable.  Let it disperse organically.

·                     Create triggers that encourage people to share.  Is there is something in the way your message is communicated that people will want to tell?  David Meerman Scott says, "When a product or service solves someone's problems or is very valuable, interesting, funny, or just plain outrageous, it's ready to be shared."

·                     Put down roots.  If you want your ideas to spread, you need to be involved in the online communities of people who actively share.

·                     Point the world to your virtual doorstep. Get a google profile. Write your own blog after you monitor other blogs and learn how to work with bloggers.  Follow people on Twitter. 

 

Ask yourself, "How can I create a world wide rave?"  Believe it is possible and then take appropriate action.

 

Theresa M. Szczurek (www.TMSworld.com and www.PursuitofPassionatePurpose.com)