Does this image frighten you?
You’re not alone…most folks would rather die than speak in public. But like it or not, you are the best spokesperson for your organization. And the more successful you become, the more you’ll be required to do presentations, panel discussions and live meetings.
You know what makes these appearances less scary? A great introduction to a warm audience!
A great set of marketing materials can speak for you before you ever say a word. Done right, they can attract those who are most likely to listen and take action. Then you can be confident that the individuals you’re trying to reach will be attentive and receptive.
Here’s what you need to move the crowd (even if it’s a crowd of one!):
- A Great Web Site – a well designed web site gives your firm legitimacy, answers questions before they’re asked, and makes customers more ready to do business.
- The Brochure People Keep – print still matters! Ever get a brochure, booklet or catalog that you hold onto because it’s too nice to throw away? You want to be one of those!
- The Presentation People Remember – effective visuals can increase retention by 400 percent.
- Engaging Video – don’t like repeating yourself? A brief, well-crafted video can break the ice with your target market and let viewers absorb your message at their own pace.
What kind of warm-up do you need to making selling less scary?
Contact us for a free consultation and let’s find out together!
Does your annual revenue cycle look like this?
A roller coaster of dizzying highs, following by devastating lows?
One of the causes may be inconsistent marketing. If you’re not advertising when you’re busy, you’ll have no new customers when the work is done. This can wreak havoc with your ability to manage cash flow.
In addition, your peak revenue periods could also be even higher if you plan out your marketing months in advance to maximize its impact.
Don’t have time for all that? We do!
If you’re in a non-retail business, chances are you’re heading into a winter slowdown. Contact us for a free consultation to find out how to weather the storm.
By the way, isn’t the graphic above a whole lot more interesting than presenting the information like this?
In the industry, this is known as an infographic. News organizations use them all the time to convey complex information to present data in a way that’s easy to remember and understand. Perhaps you should too!
How much is that “Pro Bono” work costing you?
Over the years, we’ve done a lot of work with small nonprofit organizations in various stages of development. From this experience, we’ve observed 4 make-or-break factors which we believe ultimately determine the success or failure of most mission-based organizations:
Pontificating – we know you’ve passionate, but resist the temptation to tell your story in a rambling, self-righteous way. Make sure your written and verbal message is clear, focused and compelling.
Champagne Taste, Kool-Aid Budget – be prepared to pay for the services you need, especially accounting, marketing, key program experts and administrative services. You want your support in these areas to be top-quality and accountable. Go with the “Pro,” not the “Pro Bono.”
Stacking the Board with Friends & Family – you need board members that have operational or fundraising experience as well as connections to resources. This may mean going outside your immediate circle of supporters and volunteers.
Get Leadership Training – just because you’re the founder, doesn’t automatically make you a leader. Managing operations, funds, personnel and Donors take specific skill sets that may not come naturally. Read, attend seminars, join organizations and be open to new ways of thinking and doing.
Don’t know what you don’t know? We can help!
Contact us for a free assessment so we can show you ways to inspire your stakeholders.
If you’re reading this, you probably snuck away from family activities, football or shopping to do some work during the Thanksgiving holiday!
As long as you’re doing that, you might as well make the best use of your time. The end of the year is only 35 days away, and now would be a good time to get some things off your plate – pun intended – before the New Year begins.
Carve Up Your Contacts – go through your phone, laptop and business cards and organize your contacts by industry, priority, location or any other criteria that makes sense for you. Then put them all in one database and work from that.
Stuff Yourself with Data – read as many magazines, books, receipts and web links as time will allow. You know, the ones you’ve been stockpiling all year!
Slim Down Your Inbox – read through as many of your back emails as possible. You’ll be amazed at the new opportunities that have been laying there, waiting for action. Extract as many new contacts, potential clients, and tasks as you can and put them where you’re actually do something with them!
No Leftovers – whatever you start, finish it. Because you don’t know when you’re going to have this much quiet time again!
By the way, if you’re in a retail business or you’re hosting Thanksgiving, save this article for January – same rules apply! 🙂
Contact us if you need help making your data more actionable.
Thank You for Your Support and Encouragement!
We appreciate the opportunity to share information and work with you. Enjoy this time and make the most of it.
Please Be Safe…and Remember Those in Need!
Do You Believe?
For all entrepreneurs, business is personal – no matter what we say! Once we accept that statement, we are forced to face an uncomfortable truth – as important as it is to make a living, there are some things that are more important.
In the course of almost 20 years in business, I’ve faced many trials. In looking back, the times where I felt the worst, the times when I was at my lowest, were not the times when it was hard to make ends meet. They were the times when I took on a job that I shouldn’t have taken, because I needed the money.
I had to ask myself – why was I having such a hard time starting this job, or staying on schedule? It was because I didn’t believe in either the project, or our ability to deliver given the constraints.
Eventually, this becomes a self-fulfilling prophesy. If you don’t believe in what you’re doing, you’re not going to do your best work. Dread leads to procrastination, which makes dealing with difficult projects even more difficult.
This holiday season, give yourself a gift: make some New Year’s Resolutions that go something like this…
I Will Support Causes I Believe In, even if they’re not always popular or extremely profitable.
I Will NOT Support Causes I DON’T Believe In, no matter how profitable they are.
I Will Believe What My Data SAYS, not just what I WANT to be true.
I Will Believe What My Customer DOES, not just what they say (the two won’t always match up).
I Will Speak Up When Something’s Not Right. Because you’re not doing anyone any favors by remaining silent just to avoid conflict.
I Will Be Prepared to Walk Away from A Bad Deal. You may feel like you’re leaving money on the table, but that’s better than leaving your dignity on the table!
I Will Sacrifice Today’s Needs for Tomorrow’s Goals, so you aren’t making bad decisions based on scarcity. Put yourself in a position where you aren’t pressed for time or resources.
It may take a month, or a year, or 20, but trust me…you’ll be glad you did.
Contact us if you need help fulfilling your resolutions!
I Love You, But…You Know You’re A Piece of Work!
Dear Clients:
2015 marks the 20th year since I walked into my last manager’s office and laid my resignation on his chair.
Since then, I’ve had the opportunity to work with hundreds of you in all kinds of businesses and organizations, from one-person operations to government agencies. Our relationship has given me a unique perspective on organizational behavior and, ultimately, human behavior.
I’ve had some of the most amazing experiences with you, and I wouldn’t trade them for anything. But I have to be honest…some of y’all are a real piece of work!
Come on, you know it’s true. Don’t get me wrong, I have my faults, but I’ve seen some really cringe-worthy behavior over the years.
I took the liberty of making a list…please bear with me…
Signs That You’re A Real Piece of Work:
Not Doing Your Homework – you often come to me in a panic, saying you need something urgently, but I get zero information. What business are you in? Who are your target clients? Who are your competitors? Where’s the content – text, photos, data? I want to help you, but give me something to work with here!
Being A Scope Creep – you sweet talk me into taking on your project, using words like “simple,” “easy” and “quick.” Once I’m committed, the situation changes radically. There’s a bus load of “oh by the ways” and “can you throw this in,” and “I’ve changed my mind.” The scope of work is ever-evolving, yet you expect for the price and schedule not to change. Who does that?
You’re Still Married to Your Old Habits – you ask for my help, but every time I recommend a change, you come up with a reason why you can’t make it. You said you wanted something new, why won’t you let me give it to you?
Shopping My Price All Over Town – you know I treat you well, why do you insist on always comparing me to other people? Especially the ones you see during those SuperBowl ads? And yet you’ll talk about what you spent on that fancy car or recent vacation. Where’s the appreciation?
Being Afraid of Technology – so many times you say, “I can’t” or “I don’t have time to learn” when it comes to using my online applications that could make our lives so much easier. I believe you can, and you should have more confidence in yourself. Take the time; you’ll thank me later.
Acting Like Chicken Little – a mentor of mine once said, “there are no design emergencies.” There’s no need to panic every time a change needs to be made or a deadline approaches. If you haven’t heard from me, it’s probably because I’m working on your stuff…and manic voicemails, emails and texts aren’t going to help me get them done any faster!
Like I said, we’ve had some great times together and I really care about you and I am invested in your success and the success of your business. I believe that honesty is essential to any relationship and I want us to work together for a long time. So here’s to 20 more years together and to our continued success!
Love Always,
Tony
P.S. I’d love to find out more about what’s going on in your world. Let’s talk about it sooner rather than later!
Recent Comments