posted by Anna Fleet on May 31st, 2010
Today has been dubbed “Quit Facebook Day” by a number of users who have committed to deleting their Facebook profiles in protest over the social networking site’s recent privacy changes.
The petitioning site, We’re Quitting Facebook Website, claims that Facebook’s revised privacy policy “demonstrates a lack of respect” with overly complex privacy settings and in how the site treats user data in general.
An article by Ian Paul from PC World reports that Facebook revised it’s privacy settings this past Wednesday in response to the negative press. However these changes haven’t changed protester’s minds. As of a few minutes ago, 27,000 people are still committed to deleting their Facebook accounts. Even though this number only adds up to about 0.005 percent of the 500 million Facebook users—the site is drawing a lot of negative attention to the world’s largest social network.
So, to quit or not to quit….
Do you plan to quit Facebook today? Why or why not?
Tags: Facebook, facebook privacy policies, online privacy protection, quit facebook, quit facebook day, social networking, web 2.0
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posted by admin on May 28th, 2010
Yesterday I shared the first 3 of 7 Personal Branding Laws for Marketers.
Today, let’s talk about the remaining 4 Personal Branding Laws for Marketing:
4. Law of Distinctiveness
Do be a sheep. If you do things differently, you will stand out. Take for example something our partner company, MFX Partners, they did something truly unique when they sent a client cupcakes crafted in the image of their product…just for fun! Our client ate it right up LOL 
But seriously, most people just do the minimum of what ’s expected. But little extras like the cupcakes help to build a positive personal brand.
Key question: Where are the gaps in your field or industry (or company) when it comes to client care? Identify these and incorporate them as little extras into your services to ensure you stand out.
5. Law of Visibility
Contribute to key conversations, share your point of view, don’t hide out in the background…it will increase your visibility.
Key question: What can you do to become more visible in your industry?
6. Law of Congruency
If you say one thing to impress people, but never deliver; people will question your authenticity.
Key question: What do you need to do to be more authentic?
7. Law of Persistence
Most people give up too soon instead of sticking with it. If your direction makes sense and you have some loyal people on board, stick with the plan and you will build a positive personal brand.
Key question: What do you need to do to push a project forward and see it through to completion?
Remember, everyday should be devoted to building your personal brand. If you walk the talk of the 7 Personal Branding Laws, you will build a well-regarded and truly unstoppable personal brand.
~ Brenton Schmidt
Tags: brand management, brand marketing, brand persona, Brian Tracy, personal branding, web 2.0, web marketing
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posted by admin on May 27th, 2010
We all want purpose, to be the preferred choice, to have the admiration and attention of others—whether or not we admit it. That’s why our personal brand (in other words, how people think and feel about us) is so important.
Our personal brand is all about the reputation we’ve built. If positive, it should open the door of opportunity for us to do what we love. But it can also have the opposite effect.
I’d like to share the 7 Laws of Personal Branding that I learned from sales and personal development guru Brian Tracy, but I’ve put a bit of a marketing spin on them so they’re relevant and helpful to you.
1. Law of Specialization
If you needed to get in shape you’d seek out a personal trainer or a nutritionist, wouldn’t you? People naturally seek out experts because they offer professional insight. People want to be regarded as experts because they are in higher demand and can command higher rates. Within the marketing discipline there are many specialties—e.g., SEO (search engine optimization), Social Media marketing, email marketing, webinar marketing, etc. Obviously, if your name is backed by a highly desirable specialty; you can create a stronger brand identity.
Key question: In what areas that matter deeply to my customers and colleagues can I excel?
2. Law of Leadership
Marketing today is all about leading by example. So discovering your own leadership style is essential to strengthening your personal brand appeal. People naturally want connections to individuals with a clear and persuasive vision.
Ask yourself the following 3 questions to help pinpoint your brand identity and your purpose:
o Why would someone follow me?
o Where value can I offer?
o How will they be treated because of this association?
3. Law of Personality
Energetic and positive personalities are generally liked over bitter complainers. If your personality is unique and likeable; people will be drawn to you and relate to you more easily. When defining a personal brand, start by identifying your top 1-3 personality traits…the ones that make you likeable among your colleagues and customers.
Ask yourself: What aspects of my personality are liked and valued? What is my strongest personality trait, the one people would typically associate me with?
Well, that’s enough for today. Tomorrow I’ll share the final 4 Personal Branding Laws for Marketers.
~ Brenton Schmidt
Tags: brand identity, brand marketing, brand strategy, branding laws, Brian Tracy, web marketing
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posted by Anna Fleet on May 26th, 2010
The MOO Blog, one of my favorite online reads, is treating small businesses to an entire week of helpful posts on brand promotion.
And yesterday’s post, Small Businesses – What’s in a (brand) name?, was particularly jammed full of helpful wisdom. Business names were the focus of this particular post, and if your biz name happens to be a one-woman or one-man operation that you named after yourself then you should put that phone down while you’re typing that email and listen up Sparky!
If you’re a lone person running a small business you’re probably used to acting as employee, owner, marketing department, salesperson, receptionist etc. But did you know that bigwig companies like Chanel, Jack Daniels, and JC Penny were also started by one person and named after that one person?
Yes, many small owner-named businesses do succeed swimmingly. But take heed before ordering that corporate jet. When it comes to differentiating between brand and owner there is often a lot of gray area. For instance, if many of us rely on social media as a marketing tool, but where do your personal status updates end and your business ones start—especially if they all come from the same name?
While you ponder, check out the MOO blog’s small biz series. I would if I owned my own small business. Plus, the nice folks at MOO are giving away prizes to users who share their real biz stories.
Tags: brand marketing, brand strategy for small business, marketing 2.0, web 2.0 for small business
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posted by admin on May 25th, 2010
Most marketers are multi-tasking machines. They are able to juggle multiple tiny jobs at a time that would have most buckling under the pressure to perform.
In my experience it’s more productive to focus on ONE thing at a time. It’s a lot more productive than skipping around from task to task…and a lot less tiring as well. And better yet, the sense of accomplishment is energizing compared to projects that drag on and lose their stamina.
So start your day by choosing ONE project that is hanging over your head. And set a date and commit to getting it done in ONE day, week or a month. You can thank me later.
I’ve also found that this theory stands true when we work with new clients as well. If we focus on solving ONE burning problem for them and proving ourselves, it’s a lot less productive than agencies that bite of bite off more than they can chew from the start and end up not delivering what they promised on time. ONE win at a time is the mantra to keep in mind. I know it can work for you too.
Think of the ONE thing you could be supported on right now. Now envision that one thing being taken care of. How would working in this focused style make your job easier, more rewarding or more successful?
~ Brenton Schmidt
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posted by Anna Fleet on May 21st, 2010
The first statutory holiday of (dare I say) the summer (gasp!) is upon us here in Canada. So this weekend, as you get social at your cottage or on your lovely new deck, I thought I’d leave you thinking about some social networking tips for your businesses. That way, you’ll be all caught up by Tuesday morning J
The article, ‘Get “Social” to Grow Your Business’, from Bloomberg Businessweek points to the obvious, but often overlooked, social networking opportunities for small businesses and non-profit organizations to spread brand identity, announce and share news about products and services, and create solid and targeted relationships with potential customers/sponsors.
Your homework for Tuesday: tell me how you’re taking advantage of social networking to promote your business or not-for-profit?
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posted by admin on May 20th, 2010
Today, I’d like to share a story about gaining competitive edge that’s relevant for small businesses:
Once there was a small clothing retailer on the outskirts of a little town, lets call the owner Jim. Now, Jim had run his business for many years, and business was pretty good thanks to a loyal customer following.
However, one day a big wig in a fancy suit blew into town, and offered to buy Jim’s business. The big wig was sent to make the offer by the huge conglomerate he worked for as they were planning to build a massive superstore on the same land as Jim’s shop.
Jim politely declined the big wigs offer. He loved his shop and had no interest in selling it. So the big wig left in a huff.
After a few weeks, the big wig came back to Jim’s store. He gloated, “All of your neighbours have accepted my offer, but you refuse to sell.” The he asked, “What’s it going to take?” Jim politely refused the offer again and this time the big wig stormed out, threatening, “We’ll build our massive store around your little shop and drive you out of business!”
Construction began and eventually it was the superstore’s opening day. The massive retail store stretched from one end of the block to the next. And had Jim’s little store squashed right in the middle. The mega store strung up a huge ‘Grand Opening’ banner that spanned the entire length of the store.
You might be thinking at this point that Jim should have taken the big wig’s offer to buy his store when he’d had the chance. But Jim, a man of drive and determination, had some competitive edge of his own up his sleeve. Just when everyone thought the superstore had won, Jim trumped the mega store with a banner of his own. This banner covered the length of his small retail shop and read:
“Main Entrance!”
The point of this fully little story is that you will always face competition in business, but all it takes is a little creative thinking to find an edge and to stand out from the rest.
So tell me, how have you outsmarted your competition? I’d love to hear your competitive edge stories…
~ Brenton Schmidt
Tags: brand marketing, competitive edge, small business marketing
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posted by Anna Fleet on May 19th, 2010
Are you a small business or not-for-profit organization looking to launch a new website?
Or are you thinking of redesigning an outdated, existing website?
Don’t start your web design project before you read Yahoo’s 7 Design Tips—especially for small businesses.
Remember, your website will give online customers and potential sponsors their very first impression of your company, brand, products and services, and these little tricks from Yahoo can help draw more online traffic to your landing page, and boost your online marketing success.
Our previous post on ‘what your website says about your small business’ will also be a helpful starting point for your new web design project.
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posted by Anna Fleet on May 18th, 2010
Hailed as the “Internet’s highest honor” by the folks at the New York post, the winners of the 14th Annual Webby Awards have been announced. The Webby Awards pay tribute to excellence online—websites, interactive design and advertising, usability, web functionality and online video from around the globe.
Teenage Cancer Trust, a charity with a mission to improve the lives of teens and young adults living with cancer was named the winner in the Charitable Organization/Non-Profit category; while the Make It Right organization, an American charity founded by actor Brad Pitt to help rebuild New Orleans’ Lower 9th Ward with affordable, green homes after Hurricane Katrina, took the esteemed honor in the Activism website category.
Check out all of the Webby Awards winners, recognized in almost 70 categories.
Tags: activism, graphic design awards, non-profit website, web design for charities
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posted by Anna Fleet on May 17th, 2010
You’re a small not-for-profit doing fantastic things for the local community. Or maybe you run a small business that sells a fantastic, earth-friendly product or service. Regardless of what you’re marketing, if you have a website, I’m sure you’re hoping that it will help expand your customer base and get word out about your life-changing venture.
No matter if you’ve already got yourself a clever product name, a shiny new logo, an amusing tagline—does your website look outdated? Are you too busy to write a new blog post every week?
Well then, bottom line, your website is saying all that needs to be said about that inspiring service or green product of yours:
If your website is sadly dated = your product and company are old and lame.
If your navigation buttons don’t work = people assume your products don’t work either.
If your blog was last updated 4 months back = your portraying a lazy image to customers.
Shoppers can’t find your products page, cart button, shipping info = you don’t sell online.
Your landing pages aren’t optimized = you don’t offer the info visitors are looking for.
You don’t have an “About” page = your company isn’t trustworthy.
As business owners, we often forget that our websites make a powerful impression on our online visitors. Your site should be thought of as your first impression to the public (and that includes potential customers, distributors, partners, or stakeholders online). Your website is your first handshake, initial impression and business card…it’s your first shot and it communicates everything about the credibility of your product, service, brand, and company.
If you’re a small business or not-for-profit in the Waterloo Region, find out how a sleek, user-friendly web design can fit into your tight budgets, and add to your success and potential growth.
Tags: not-for-profit, SEO, small business, web design, web marketing, website optimization
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One Calendar with Social Networking Powers
