Question: How can a new team member impress their Millennial boss?Follow the Three "W's""We constantly need to hold clients accountable, manage expectations and tell each other what we're relying on. I never want to wonder, "What are you doing? When will I see that? Why are you doing it?" I created the three "W"s, which stand for "What you are doing," "Why you are doing it," and "When it will be done." Communicate these constantly to your clients, team and me, and you'll be golden." @BamComm Be Passionate"I love seeing people enjoy their work. Motivation can be fleeting when work gets hard, but if you truly enjoy what you are working on then you will do a better job. This will make you stand out to your boss and colleagues. Enjoying your job is a choice, so why not be passionate about what you do day in and day out?" @doug_hutchings Go Above and Beyond"I have an employee that's always using his free time to advance the company through extra projects of his own doing (with prior company approval of course). And while I certainly don't recommend going overboard, just the fact that he's always thinking about what else can we do is remarkable. Showing the occasional initiative in this direction would impress your boss substantially." @FreeEbooksNet "Mind Map" Your Projects"Tracking projects with mindmaps can show a Millennial boss that you are interested, extremely organized and willing to go above and beyond. Mind mapping can show you can multitask effectively -- a must when working with Millennials -- and that you can keep up with multiple demands. Mind mapping is a powerful tool can be used to track varied projects and to incorporate task and project management." @MulliganFunding Do Nice Things for Your Team"Many of our teammates bring snacks, order pizza or bake cupcakes for the whole team. We've had teammates also go out for lunch and on their way, stopped at a frozen yogurt stop to pick up a few cups to give to everyone back at the office. Going out of the way to do something nice to for your teammates is the best way to impress." @nanxi_liu Speak Up"New team members tend to be hesitant to voice their opinion, but if done correctly it can be a quick way to establish yourself as a leader while impressing your Millennial boss. Nothing impresses me more than when a new young and hungry team member offers a solution to a challenge we're facing." @circaclayton Add Value"Millennial bosses didn't get there following old school tactics; they got there by having a focus on efficiency and effectiveness. If you want to impress the boss, show the boss how you can add major value to the company and do it! Every boss wants employees who are exceptional and provide great value to the team." Show Up at Social Events"While contributions on the job will take precedence, sometimes remarks or insights shared about work at a social event are most memorable. We were recently at a hockey game and the discussion there surprisingly was equally productive as a boardroom meeting. Take every chance you can to reveal why you're valuable by offering a unique perspective on a current issue or upcoming opportunity." @davidciccarelli Harness Your Creativity Thinking"What impresses me about a new team member is when they aren’t afraid to contribute, speak up and share their ideas — I like to think of it as "sprinkling their magic pixie dust." We work in a creative environment where collaboration and teamwork are key. New members should bring a fresh approach to showcase their unique way of thinking." @rakiareynolds Be Knowledgable"Speaking up with ideas can get you noticed — but supporting these ideas with trending research and examples from the industry (not your old textbooks) will show you’re strategically engaged and self-motivated." @SpiralStair Share Your Networking Contacts"Millennial bosses (or really bosses of any generation) are not only impressed but also thankful when employees use their own personal connections to help in the growth, development and success of their company. If a certain piece of a project needs to get done and you have a friend or past colleague that can help or connect your boss with the right people, you are moving the company forward!" @milesj from https://businesscollective.com/11-simple-ways-you-can-impress-your-new-millennial-boss/
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No one seriously doubts that mobile is the future of the web. We crossed the point at which a business could blithely ignore mobile users a couple of years ago. Today, if you’re not mobile-friendly, you’re in trouble. But what does it mean to be mobile-friendly? There are two choices: native mobile apps or the mobile web. Native mobile applications have a host of advantages compared to the mobile web: access to the device’s hardware, easy push notifications, and better performance. But, when I chose my company’s mobile strategy, we went all in on the web. Here’s why we made that choice, which might get you thinking about whether your business really needs a mobile app. If we were to ask users to install an app, there would have to be a very good reason. Good reasons include a genuine need for access to on-device features like the camera or accelerometer, or a requirement for graphical capabilities available only to native applications. If the functionality of benefit to the user can’t be implemented on the web, you have a good reason to create a mobile app. Let me stress “of benefit to the user.” If the only benefit is to your company, then it’s a little rude to nag a user into installing an app on their phone. Here’s the thing: Almost everything that the majority of businesses want to do with an app is possible on the modern mobile web. Modern front-end and back-end web technology, when coupled with responsive design techniques, give us everything we need to create a powerful experience for our users, regardless of the device they use. My company’s clients come to us via the web. If we created an app, there’s no chance that we would get new business through an app store. The web is how our clients find us, and the web is where they want to do business with us. That’s not true of just my business — it’s true of most businesses with a presence on the web. We’d be imposing on our clients if we asked them to move from their preferred platform to a native application. Furthermore, a native app could never replace our site. We’d need to develop apps for several platforms in parallel with a mobile-friendly website. Managing multiple code bases, all of which would have to be integrated with our back-end ordering systems and control panels, would involve a huge duplication of effort with no tangible upside. Most people do not want to install yet another mobile application that does exactly what a business’ website does. I know I don’t. Some companies cripple their web experience with annoying ads and limited functionality to encourage uptake of an app that users don’t want or need. We respect our clients and the choices they make — why would we treat them like that? We thought a lot about developing native applications, and we decided it wasn’t worth the investment for us or our clients. Instead, we have focused on creating a compelling and elegant mobile experience on the web. When deciding on a mobile strategy, founders and leaders should consider the following:
The mobile web is open, it’s universal, and it’s come a long way in the last few years. A couple of years ago I’d have recommended a native app to most businesses because the mobile web wasn’t ready for prime time. That’s no longer the case. Entrepreneurs should think long and hard about whether a native app is the right way to go. from https://businesscollective.com/which-does-your-business-need-an-app-or-mobile-compatible-website/ One year ago this month, my team and I officially launched our campaign on Indiegogo. We had spent nearly a year prepping, over $50,000 on lead generation advertising and countless hours working with reporters to get our story out there. It was a ton of work, to say the least. It was absolutely worth it but I had no idea just how difficult launching a campaign would be. Like many, I was under the impression that I could create a good video, add some great imagery and get a couple of reporters to talk about us and we’d be set. I was so wrong. Crowdfunding has opened the door for so many startups that wouldn’t otherwise have had the chance to get off the ground. What so many people fail to realize is that a successful campaign doesn’t just go viral and get lucky. Most of us that see any level of success spend months and sometimes even years building the foundation for a big campaign. Below are a couple myths that I’d like to bust: You Don’t Need Any Money to StartSadly, this is false. The old saying still proves to be true: “You’ve got to spend money to make money.” For our campaign in particular, we had to spend money on things like photography, videography, marketing, PR and advertising. It was all of these things combined that got us to funding. You Have to Get Covered by all the Biggest OutletsLet it be known that first comes funding and then comes the reporters wanting to write about you. Granted, we were fortunate enough to have TechCrunch break the story of our launch, which gave us a ton of traffic but not a ton of backers. You should absolutely spend time targeting bloggers and influencer marketers that will help bring you more backers and not just traffic. “It’s a Great Idea, It Will Do Great!”Wrong. The best ideas need strategy to get the word out and that strategy involves time and targeting. You need to first identify the different types of people who you think will back and support your campaign and then you need to figure out how to tell them about your campaign. Your Backers Will Be Your Biggest and Most Patient FansThe majority of crowdfunding campaigners underestimate when the product will finish. It is extremely important to explain this risk to your backers. Many people are unaware of the concept and don’t realize that their financial backing is an investment and creating a product can present many unforeseen issues that cause delays. Keep your updates transparent and frequent to help with this. Don’t let this information get you down. I know it’s hard having to reevaluate, but I can assure you that taking this information to heart before launching your campaign will only help. And a piece of advice: Indiegogo has a very supportive team that will help you strategize and plan so I highly recommend connecting with them before you decide to launch on Kickstarter. A version of this post originally appeared here. from https://businesscollective.com/3-crowdfunding-myths-to-understand-before-launching-your-next-campaign/ Social media is now an integral part of every consumer’s daily habits, so much so that when customers need help, they expect the businesses they work with to offer support on-demand via their social media channels. This is where hundreds of companies suffer. For too long, brands have approached social media as a one-way street. They’ve used it as another medium to push their own personal messages and sales pitches rather than allowing the customer to build a real relationship with their brand: the whole point of social media in the first place. A majority of the blame for this disconnect is due to the lack of a clear strategy and focus as brands structure their social campaigns. Best of all, the results can be huge for your brand. My company launched a Facebook page last May, and in the time since has built up a following of over 5,000 people. Our first video ad published last July, and reached over one million views in less than a month. The following million came less than a week later. Social media transformed my business from a small startup to a nationally-recognized brand — here’s how it can do the same for you. Identifying the Appropriate ChannelsOne of the biggest mistakes I see other brands making with their social media strategies is wearing themselves too thin. They create a profile on every social media network without considering whether their consumers are active on the network in the first place. I’ve found that it’s always better to start small and build out your network from there. Start by creating targeted personas and identifying what social networks they are using as a part of their daily routines. Focus on the few platforms that give you the most reach and engagement with your target audience. If you don’t know where to start, Facebook is always a safe bet. It attracts the highest conversion rate for all social media e-commerce traffic, according to this Shopify infographic. Once you have mastered one or two social channels, leverage the power of the communities you’ve built to help you expand into other social or marketing channels. Creating Compelling, Engaging ContentYour social channels are nothing if you’re not doing just that: being social. Don’t expect to just sit back and let the customers and sales roll in after you create your profiles. Instead, create content that attracts and engages your audience, compelling them to take action and convert from mere followers to brand evangelists. As a golden rule, your social media strategy should start with more listening and a lot less talking. Once you have a clear idea of what it is your audience is saying and what they are engaging in, you’ll know what kind of content will drive them towards your business. In every conversation you create on social media, you need to focus on providing a unique value to your followers. When you start focusing less on conversions and more on creating compelling content for your brand, you’ll see just how you can transform your audience into a group of loyal brand ambassadors. Being Real With Your AudienceA big difference between social media and more traditional marketing channels is that people don’t come to social media to see a sales pitch: they come to connect. Instead of pushing your brand’s products and services onto your audience, welcome consumers into your brand. Social media is emotional in nature. One of the best ways to connect with consumers and build a lasting relationship is to show them the human side of your business. You’d be surprised at just how engaging a behind-the-scenes photo or video into your brand’s operations can be. Rewarding Your CommunityOnce you’ve engaged your community, it’s time to show them how much their loyalty means to your brand. Offering incentives and discounts encourages continued engagement while keeping your brand on the top of followers’ minds. At my company, we keep our audience engaged by launching contests and promotional giveaways. Our social followers are the first to know when new products hit our store, and the payoff can be a huge asset in gaining traction, customer reviews and referrals for your newest products. We’re living in a social world. If your business isn’t taking advantage, you’re missing out on over 2 billion potential customers for your brand. Stop letting your ad spend and marketing efforts go to waste: instead, breathe new life into your brand by connecting with your customers on social media. from https://businesscollective.com/in-the-age-of-social-media-heres-how-your-brand-can-take-advantage/ When the Golden State Warriors signed Kevin Durant in the summer of 2016, the rest of the NBA took a major collective gasp. The strongest team in professional basketball, dominant NBA champions in 2015 and a win away from repeating in 2016, got a lot stronger by adding one of the five best players in the game. After the signing, the other 29 teams in the league dejectedly asked themselves, “How can we possibly compete with the Golden State Warriors?” Businesses across America looking at corporate juggernauts like Google, Apple, Facebook and Amazon face a similar challenge in the arms race for top talent. A strong job market, a generation of candidates interested in more than just a steady job and a paycheck, and competitors flushed with seemingly limitless resources willing to do whatever it takes to land whoever they want forces companies to work harder and smarter than ever to attract the best of the best. How can you take on the big boys and build a world-class workforce? Follow these simple steps and you will be able to compete with any company out there. Understand Your AudienceWhen the Warriors were devising a strategy to try to persuade Durant to leave the Oklahoma City Thunder and spurn attractive offers from competitors like the Boston Celtics, they closely studied his personal makeup and values. Identifying that Durant greatly valued leaving a legacy as a winner and playing a style of basketball he considered enjoyable, the Warriors made a hard sell around their unique ability to provide him with the opportunity to win multiple championships while playing in a highly-enjoyable, passing-oriented, free-flowing system. As the American workforce becomes increasingly less gray, companies need to hone in on the audience of greatest importance to them: millennials. According to a Brookings study, millennials will make up as much as 75 percent of the U.S. workforce by 2025. Millennials cite Google, Apple and Facebook as the most desirable companies to work for, so clearly the Golden State Warriors of the business world have figured out the right formula. Company Culture CountsA Harvard Business Review study titled “Why People Quit Their Jobs” cited the oldest (and most obvious to many of us) reason in the books: they don’t like their boss. A separate Gallup survey found that half of those polled left their jobs primarily “to get away from their manager.” In my career, I have witnessed bad managers chase talented employees away from companies that, on paper, appeared to be desirable to work for. I have also witnessed bad employees disrupt a positive work environment and threaten to undermine an otherwise sterling corporate culture. One bad apple can truly spoil the bunch, so it is critical for a business’s intent on attracting top talent to ensure that every member of the organization is a team player capable of living up to the vision, mission and values of the company and able to mesh well with others. Millennials in particular prize companies that possess values they admire and offer both an environment and work that they enjoy. The Brookings study on millennial preferences found that 63 percent of millennials want their employer to contribute to social or ethical causes they felt were important, compared to roughly half of older Gen Xers and Boomers who felt similarly. And almost two-thirds of millennials would rather make $40,000 a year at a job they love than $100,000 a year at a job they don’t. Beyond building a team comprised fully of high-quality people, companies can establish a fun and desirable culture by catering to the intrinsic needs of their employees. In-office amenities like ping pong and foosball tables or arcade machines can help employees de-stress and work more productively and happily. Throwing happy hours and other social events also serves as a way to make employees feel more comfortable at work and with those they work with, and offers a platform to help employees develop friendships with one another. Offer Unique PerksAmong the most attractive aspects of working for companies like Google, Apple, Facebook and Amazon are the employee benefits beyond traditional offerings like healthcare and retirement plans. When I was student body president in junior high school, I learned firsthand how impactful free food can be to winning the support of your constituents, a lesson I carried me with as president of the Business Scholars Society in college (we had free food at every event). At the end of the day, if people love food and free things, what is better than free food? Stock your kitchen, offer snacks (we have a popcorn machine) and bring in or take your team out for free meals. We have found company barbecues to be especially impactful. Everyone on the team gets to socialize in a fun, relaxed setting and enjoys free food. Fortunately, one of our interns this summer was the founder of his high school grilling club. Just like free food, mandatory time off and vacation stipends will be extremely well-received. Adobe goes as far as shutting its offices down for two weeks a year — one week in December and a week over the summer, while Airbnb provides employees a $2,000 travel stipend. If your business can’t afford such generous benefits, offer what you can. Allowing employees to leave early or work from home on days that they would like to (and when it isn’t otherwise disruptive) is an easy way to build goodwill. Even when benefits apply to limited audiences within the organization, they can be impactful company-wide if they position the employer as thoughtful, sensitive and caring. Clearly, no company has a monopoly on creativity or thoughtfulness and smaller companies should be better able to implement creative benefits than large corporations, as they are not as stymied by internal politics and bureaucratic hurdles. Optimize Your OfficeCompanies of all sizes across all industries with greatly varying budgets have prioritized investing in their employees’ health by furnishing their workplaces with ergonomic office chairs, desks and workstations. The study of one’s efficiency and health in their working environment, ergonomics, has exploded in popularity and application over the last quarter century, and organizations are dedicating far greater focus toward ergonomics today than ever before. Providing ergonomic office furniture to your workforce is a fail-safe way to ensure that your employees are more efficient and comfortable when working. As the founder and chairman of an office furniture company, I have seen the impact firsthand, with clients of all sizes across a wide variety of industries. By providing lumbar support, ergonomic chairs specifically target posture to increase worker health and productivity. A misconception is that companies need thousands of dollars to buy Aeron chairs, as they are the most in-demand office chairs ever created and offered in the marketplace. But we have created a business model that allows us to sell refurbished Herman Miller Aeron chairs at roughly half off of retail pricing. Companies can and should seek similar high-end ergonomic options for products such as sit-to-stand desks that are not as expensive as the highest-priced offerings, but equally as effective. Sit-to-stand desks are especially popular among millennials, as they not only improve the health of your back but help you burn calories throughout the day and counteract lethargy. Beyond ensuring that your employees are seated in ergonomic furniture, optimize your office by focusing on its aesthetics. People prefer uplifting, positive environments to atmospheres that are drab, dull and depressing, so incorporate fun colors, interactive and/or chalkboard walls, natural greenspaces and fun decor. While they have received some backlash of late, open plan offices have been and remain popular. They can enhance communication between management and staff, while propelling increased collaboration between employees across different departments. Focus on the FamilyAccording to a recent National Journal-Allstate Heartland Monitor Poll, relative to baby boomers, millennials place a greater value on work-life balance and spending quality time with friends and family. In fact, over 80 perfect of the millennials surveyed consider having a good balance between work and life and enjoying enough quality time with family necessary for a good life. Just as the Warriors identified and catered to Kevin Durant’s values, it is imperative for all companies to listen and adapt to the needs of the group most important to the composition of its workforce. Many millennials are young parents and many plan on having children in the near future. Recognizing the importance of catering to familial needs, companies are increasingly offering free childcare in the office or reimbursements for outside childcare expenses in addition to generous maternity and paternity leave options. While providing a year of paid leave and delving into female fertility may be territory many businesses simply cannot enter, all employers should provide an accommodative environment that allows its employees to live a healthy, balanced life, without having to trade off having a family for building a successful career. Millennials appreciate those who genuinely care about their wellbeing as people (not merely as workers) and companies that are truly caring, kind and compassionate can show their love in many different ways. Upon signing Kevin Durant, the Golden State Warriors had the best record in the NBA and steamrolled their way through playoffs to win the championship. They are in a great position to win again this year and for the foreseeable future. But that has not stopped teams around the league from competing. The Boston Celtics fell short in their efforts to land Durant and their efforts to advance to the NBA Finals, but have spent the offseason positioning themselves to take on Golden State. You will inevitably lose talent you desire to Google and to other large blue-chip companies, but you can and should compete every step of the way. And if you do, you will find your company looking like the Celtics, which isn’t a bad thing, even if you are a Laker fan. from https://businesscollective.com/want-to-build-a-world-class-workforce-appeal-to-your-talents-wants-and-needs/ As an entrepreneur, business builder and corporate ladder climber, I’ve had to get comfortable asking for what I want. It’s rarely given. The tough part is, as humans, we are typically uncomfortable not only in asking for what we want, but also how we ask for what we want. If I had a dime for every time I have been called aggressive, crazy, intense (or worse), I would have a lot of dimes. But I think about my personal motto:
Let’s discuss how you earn your seat at the table. Practice Your PitchNothing beats practice. Start small. A perfect example is my most recent trip to Belize: Every time I checked into a hotel, bought an excursion or paid for just about anything, I asked for a discount. What happened? Every single hotel (four over two weeks) upgraded us and gave us anywhere from a 10% to a 30% discount. Don’t Come in Committed to an OutcomeCome with options, not outcomes. Instead of saying X amount, consider flex work, vacation, and/or a virtual assistant. Get creative with your asks. Explain Why You Deserve ItNever say, “I want more money.” This rubs me (and many people) the wrong way. When an employee comes to me with this language, I immediately calculate the percentage change they are asking for and say, “What are you doing to earn 35% more money?” Rarely do they have an answer. Often, they didn’t even realize they were asking for such a big percentage increase. Back up your asks with facts and numbers. Say, “I did X, Y and Z and my plan for the coming months is to accomplish this and that. I think the work I am doing is worth more than I am currently making. So, I wanted to talk to you about a pay raise.” Then, don’t say anything. Your manager may be about to let you know you’re going to get a raise higher than your ask. Put Yourself in Your Boss’ (Or Counterparty’s) ShoesWhat are their goals, and how can you align yours with theirs? If you’ve ever been asked for a raise by an employee, you’d know that there is only so much you can do. How can you put yourself on the other side of the table? When I first negotiated to get time off for an MBA and had my first company out of school pay for it, I started with my small ask first and I aligned our goals. I said, “I’m committed to having a long career here and believe I need to better my skills in international business for us to really succeed, so I want to go back to school while working. If I can find a way to do that won’t interfere with getting my job done, and I promise to beat out my goals every single quarter or I’ll quit school, would you be open to it?” He said yes. Then I came back once I got in and said, “If I can get Georgetown to cover X percentage of the cost and beat sales goals by X, would you sponsor me for the rest of my schooling?” He said yes. I was planning on offering a longer contract with the firm as well but I held back. He said “yes” to all my asks. Don’t Make the First MoveMaking your “opponent” like you is worth its weight in gold. Smile, cajole, and appeal to their better instincts. My go-to line is, “You can’t blame a girl for asking, can you?” If you are negotiating a salary or package with a new gig and the person asks you what you make currently, you don’t need to answer. You can say, “’Well, I’m flexible depending on how you structure compensation for the growth potential and the right company fit long term. Would you be willing to share the rough salary range you have in mind for this position?” If they push you, say, “This is really not something I give out broadly. Kind of like a woman never tells her age. Why don’t you tell me what your range is and I’ll let you know if that fits my range.” Confidence is everything. Play Hard to GetThe one who wants it less wins. So even if you want a new job, client or raise so badly you would sell out your mother, pretend you don’t. Say you have a job offer you’re dying to take, and are about to quit your current job anyway. Reframe your mindset. They must negotiate to get the best deal for their company and you must negotiate the best deal for you. You can say, “I’m really happy in my current role and growing immensely. I’m always open to the right opportunity at the right company, but I’m not actively looking.” Remember playing hard to get? In my experience, this increases your perceived value, and makes them want you more. Remember the commandments and you just might always get what you want. from https://businesscollective.com/6-ways-to-overcome-your-discomfort-and-ask-for-what-you-want/ Question: What can entrepreneurs in smaller market spaces do to reach clients, investors, and customers in larger city areas?Showcase Your Value Proposition"Make it clear that regardless of your geographical locale that you are a fit for the customer's needs. Geography shouldn't be a limiting factor to showing that your company can deliver. This can be done effectively with targeted case studies, talks or videos. Any medium can work, but the key idea is that you need to show in a targeted manner how your expertise can help the customer succeed." @arroyolabs Be Resourceful"To reach anyone, in any market, from any market, we have a multitude of tools. It's 2017! Internet, social media, research, email, snail mail, pay-per-click advertising, Google Ads, tweets, comments, shout-outs, phone; you name it. Very easy to "reach out and touch someone." Now the real question is, how do you stand out and elicit a response? " @elev8cg Remember Your Baseline"Your first step is to assess the larger market based on your own strengths, weaknesses and competitiveness. Once you’ve done that, create some marketing assets related to the market you want to target -- localized landing pages, fresh posts on your blog, social posts and so on." @steven_buchwald Use Google Maps"Put yourself on the map, literally, with Google. Many people are looking for services or products in specific locations. Searching with Google Maps makes this easy to do. Potential customers might just be visiting or passing through your town. Sign up with Google My Business and put information about your business right on the map." @thinkbigseo Create Valuable Content That Aligns With Solving Your Customer's Problems"People need a problem solved. If you speak to them about that problem, earn their trust with content that positions you as a trustworthy expert who is capable of solving their problems, then you will win their business. Create a piece of content for each specific type of person you want to reach, then use Facebook ads to target the audience in the location you are trying to reach." @tresnicmedia from https://businesscollective.com/5-things-entrepreneurs-in-smaller-market-spaces-can-do-to-reach-clients-and-investors-in-larger-city-areas/ Scaling a business is difficult. Achieving growth requires companies to have the right product and the right team. Yet recruiting capable talent can be hard. This is especially true for firms seeking marketing expertise. One way to source skilled marketing labor is by retaining an agency. But brands must be intentional about making the most of their agency relationship. Although the clients pay the bills, most agencies worth their salt can afford to be selective about who they work with. Furthermore, companies get the best results when they actively collaborate with their agency partner. As the managing director and founder of Group8A, a boutique marketing consultancy, I recommend four ways brands can form more productive partnerships with their marketing agency. 1. Share comprehensive and timely feedback.In some cases, clients are their own bottleneck. When an agency shares its deliverables, clients should thoroughly review and approve those materials within 24 to 48 hours. The longer it takes for a client to give the “green light,” the further the delay. If edits are needed, provide a full list of comments upfront. Do not wait until subsequent rounds of edits to request changes that could have been addressed earlier. Brands are accountable for both the success and failure of their agency relationships. By actively communicating your needs and expectations, you help your agency accelerate progress, avoid guesswork and minimize errors. 2. Focus on the bigger picture and don’t sweat too many of the details.One mistake brands make when working with a marketing agency is agonizing over the wrong deliverables or metrics. “Why aren’t we tweeting five times a day?” “Can we get daily activity reports instead of weekly summaries?” “Why did we only grow 5 percent this week when traffic was up 10 percent the week prior?” Do not obsess about all the minor details. Also, resist the urge to micromanage. Instead, seek to understand the process your agency will take to achieve its goals. If you believe in that, then you won’t have to worry about hitting daily targets. Finally, you can have your sights set on the bigger picture. 3. Ask embarrassing questions.Marketers do not always realize they speak a different language. Although you may have a general understanding of what content marketing, social media engagement and pay-per-click advertising are, you should not feel ashamed when you do not understand how bounce rate, ad impressions and engagement time work. Good agencies will coach you. Indeed, it can be embarrassing to have to ask someone to explain concepts or strategies that are fundamental in digital marketing today. Fortunately, no one will fault you for not knowing something. When you ask your agency reps to explain what they have done, what they are currently doing and what they expect to accomplish next, you initiate a conversation that can lead to a crash course in any given marketing subtopic. 4. Be opportunistic with your budget.Marketing budgets should be designed to be flexible. To capitalize on unexpected opportunities, clients should be open to increasing marketing spend in order to pilot promising projects. If, perhaps, a prominent blogger with millions of monthly readers requests a free sample of your product for review along with a $500 gift card to giveaway to his or her readers, you should definitely approve that expense. If a daytime TV show host offers to interview you on his or her show tomorrow, you should book the next flight out to their studio without hesitation. Furthermore, when your agency finds ROI-positive marketing channels, be prepared to double- or triple-down on your investment. For example, if your team manages to profitably advertise your products on search engines and social media, allocate as many resources as they need to fully exhaust those marketing channels. from https://businesscollective.com/4-ways-brands-can-improve-their-relationships-with-their-marketing-agency/ Question: What's your best tip for taking a professional headshot you can use for the next few years?Think About Your Personal Brand"Have you ever noticed how some professionals will wear the same clothes during their presentations? They have a certain look that represents their personal brand. What's your personal brand? More importantly, do you have the data and experience to create one? I remember when I shaved my beard and a few of my clients celebrated. I understand my personal brand far more today then I did then." @TasticMarketing Don't Be Too Trendy"Adding personality to the headshot can make it more appealing and successful but avoid anything in the frame that is too topical or trendy. If you are wearing anything trendy, in a year or so it will no longer be in style and the picture will feel dated. Same goes for any trendy filter applied to the photo. Personality is OK, but keep it simple and you can use it for years." @arroyolabs Project Confidence"Ideally choose a place with good lighting, a solid background and avoid wearing all black, white or red. Then, take a moment to find your mindset where you are most comfortable and content. You will project those thoughts and feeling subconsciously. Of the photos, best ones are those that project confidence yet gives off a feeling of being relaxed and natural." @ALIGNEDSIGNS Understand That You Get What You Pay For"Simply put, once you’ve figured out the sort of mood and personality you want your headshot to convey, set aside some funds to hire a professional photographer. No matter how skilled you think you are with a camera, it’s always better to bring in a pro. They’ll be able to capture you far better than you would capture yourself, and at the end of the day, it will be money well spent." @steven_buchwald from https://businesscollective.com/4-best-tips-for-taking-a-timeless-professional-headshot/ Consumers are constantly bombarded with digital marketing materials, from social media ads and paid search ads to blast emails and weekly newsletters. It’s hard for brands to cut through the clutter and show value to consumers — unless they utilize the power of human engagement. Street teams interact directly with consumers to get them excited about your brand and connect with it on a more personal level. This excitement translates into direct action – whether you want consumers to download your app, sample your product, attend an event, or use your service for the first time. My company recently worked on a nationwide project for one of today’s top ride-sharing brands. The goal was to build brand awareness as well as have consumers download the brand’s app by offering coupon codes for their first ride with the company. We hired and trained event managers and brand ambassadors for mobile street team events in 11 markets and activated street teams on college campuses around the country. Brand ambassadors talked to almost 1,500 consumers during the 5-month campaign, with 20 percent of consumers downloading the app and using the coupon code. When executed correctly, a street team initiative can increase brand awareness, build loyalty and increase sales. But when executed incorrectly, a street team initiative can waste money and damage a brand’s reputation. If you have ever encountered an untrained street team glued to their smartphones, clustered together and blocking the sidewalk, or shouting at you as you walk by, you know what I mean. The following are my top nine tips for successfully using street teams to increase brand awareness and acquire new customers:
Street teams are a way to bring mobile apps and other online offerings to life. Rather than staring at a screen, consumers get to interact directly with products and services, and their questions can be answered by the person standing right next to them. In today’s digital age, building a personal connection with consumers goes a long way towards fulfilling your brand’s goals. A version of this post originally appeared on Forbes. from https://businesscollective.com/how-to-use-street-teams-to-build-brand-awareness/ |
ABOUT MEHi I am Brenda Feaster from New York city. Recently completed my business studies. I always helps others in my area specially the entrepreneurs who want to grow their businesses this also increases my own abilities as well. I also recently started my own food business and its going well. ArchivesNo Archives Categories |