In these times of tight revenue streams marketing has become more important than ever. Many misunderstand marketing or abuse the science behind human behavior to exploit others. They believe it is the art of convincing people to buy things you want them to have. Convincing them to spend money on items they do not need. This is not how to build a sustainable business or brand.
Marketing should be instead about finding out what people want and/or need and then educating them on how they can obtain these items or services. This will create sustainability. People speak of identity and branding and yet fail to address integrity and authenticity which in business are as if not more important. Would you rather have large sums of money money one time or multiple streams of sustainable cash flow because you are solving a need?
The question at hand is what sort of business are you running? What are its core values?
Just as a good consultant looks for what their client needs and find a way to supply them a good marketing or sales person does this with the good and services they source.
So many people ask me in various circles recommend or suggest them. Because of this I have a simple rule - when people ask me to refer or reference others I do it often no questions asked, but when they ask me to promote themselves I ask why?
Let me explain - I ask them: What do you talk (or tweet) about that others may be interested in? This is also a way to find out why this person is self promoting. What so few seem to get is that because they promoting and focusing only on themselves and what they want no one is interested in them. I think their is an axiom that says it best - people do not care how much you know until they know how much you care!
If you only care about yourself and what you want then what should anyone else care about you and yet if you show a genuine interest in others you would be shocked the response oyu get from them!
Why - simple really human nature - we all want to feel special and important because in our hearts we know we do not exist to fulfill your needs because we are all unique and special and the person who recognizes and respects that win our appreciation.
Change - to often people misunderstand or fail to take it into account - people and businesses do the same things over and over again expecting often with the same people sometimes with a new cast of the same characters and are shock when what worked marginally before or flat out did not work fails time and again.
Still others confuse a simple understanding of the fact being adaptable does not mean forgoing or abandoning your core values and though the form my change the basic rules that govern it remain unchanged - water is always water regardless of if it is steam, liquid water or ice. Same holds true for social media - it is still media like advertising and though interactive should be treated no differently - there are no new and wonderful rules.
Look at the cell phone, there was the phone, the walkie talkie, the analogue phone, the telegraph, the phonograph, and least we forget megaphone, drums and smoke signals all are methods of communication with their respective strengths and weaknesses but all have a universal underlying rule - they are meant to convey messages and ideas to a person other than yourself in a method both can understand.
Attended the #smcgreenville meeting today and listened to a presentation by Ruby Tuesday. Also read an article about social media and it dawned on me that many neither understand nor make proper use of social media causing unrealistic expectations and while essential slow adaption by many corporations in part due to fear of change in culture or processes because they fail to undestand the power of having actual real time market information on how they or their brand is presenting.
Lets make this simple - social = interactive and media = advertising
Over time I have come to respect Chris for his knowledge regarding social media and his desire to help people.
Chris Voss has been a CEO, built, managed and invested in over 22 Corporations in differing fields of industry for over 20 years.
His experience of Business Ownership and Controlling Interest Investments range from: Mortgage, Real Estate, Stock Markets, Investing, Mall Retailing, Computers, Clothing Lines, Talent Agencies, Courier Companies, Personnel Companies, Telemarketing Call Centers, Construction, Pay Per Call Industry, Club Promotions, Social Media, etc.
At 18, he started his first company. In 1992, with a mere $2000, he started his first Multi-Million Dollar producing company, that ran for over 13 years. A year later, with $4000, he started his second Multi-Million Dollar company that still operates today. After that he oversaw 3 Companies simultaneously, while building and investing in over 22 different companies.
He is proficient in most all aspects of Business Management, Operations, Start-Ups, Sales, Motivation, Training and overseeing thousands of Employees. He brings Vision to a Business.in his ability to "think outside the box."He can innovate outside the paradigms of a company's self-limiting belief systems. Given his breadth of diversity he can assimilate a business quickly and assess its good and weak points. In one case, he took over a company going into bankruptcy, turned it around, saved it from bankruptcy.
A successful Entrepreneur of Multi-Million Dollar Companies, he's consulted people and business' alike on a wide range of Business and Personal Life issues. On Twitter his advice is followed by over 100,000 people and growing. He is in the 1200 of the Top Twitter people followed out of and estimated 20+ million users daily He has become the Social Media Marketing Expert other "experts' call for help.
He currently writes a blog, The Chris Voss Show, in which many of his market predictions come into play. He predicted the current recession in 2007 and that it would be the worst since the Great Depression.
A Statement from Chris:
I want to reach out to all the new people on Twitter and those who follow only a few people. This is a post for you.
Twitter is a tremendous resource of information, that is amazing and interesting. Personally, Twitter has changed mine and other peoples worlds. I’ve found amazing programs and information that has helped me and my business’. Since the information comes to me, I can pick and choose my interests or search for them. Unfortunately, many people leave Twitter in the first 30 days, because many of people dont “get” Twitter.
“David Martin, vice president of primary research for research analyst firm Nielsen Online, wrote in a blog that Twitter has a retention rate of around 40 percent, which means that more than 60 percent of Twitter users stop using the service a month after joining in.”
I like many joined, left and came back. Heres the thing, to really enjoy Twitter and its vast resources: YOU NEED TO FOLLOW AT LEAST 2000 PEOPLE. Now I know that sounds like a lot of work, but with my training resources (see below) you can be following 2000 people in 48 hours, taking only 15 minutes of your day. Like any great tool you need an owners guide to help you, otherwise your just clawing in the dark wondering why you dont understand Twitter.
The challenge with only following a small smattering of people is you miss out on most of the great resources. Big fish that chat alot like me, seem to take up alot of your small stream, even though it is some of the best you can find on Twitter. I lose alot of small accounts because I become the 800 lb gorilla on their stream. If they would more people, they would enjoy twitter more and not notice my chat as much even though its filled with great stuff to help you enjoy Twitter. The other way to enjoy Twitter is to go out and make friends search out people with similar resources to your own and add them as followers.
The bottom line is its tough to really enjoy Twitter unless you get a few thousand followers. I want to offer my resources to you so please feel free to email me with questions you have and I will try to help you along. you can also Tweet me a question in my stream and I’ll try to answer it. My Email is Chrisvoss11@gmail.com
Be sure to check out my training resources below – Twitter is super popular and will continue to be trendy, don't be “that person” who doesn't get it. Enjoy it now.
No one is immune even those of use who work to respect the rules. Vincent Wright suggested we start a movement called #IVouchFor to validate those of us who are real. I never was a person to be politically correct and often that has gotten me in trouble and I do not claim to be great with word smithing but I do work to live by the things I speak about and on. Those that followed me on twitter @lspearmanii know that my stream was about a few things
Technology
Ethics
Business
Helping others with less than 1000 build their following
Posting links of interest using Viigo
I will not go over what is in the video but I will share the rules I used to govern my conduct on twitter of which I have no problem with being held accountable
Never speak negative of others
Edify everyone you can
Help those who are starting get a leg up
Discuss topics of interest
Answer everyone (for the most part) who addressed you directly
Conduct yourself with integrity
RT people whose posts you link or are inspired/moved by
When RTing people who are encouraging you to follow remove your name and encourage them to follow the other people on the list
Follow people when they ask
Follow those people that follow you
Provide helpful advice and suggestions to anyone that asks
Remove yourself from negative people
Remember you exist to help others they do not exist to help or serve you
Work to respond to people in their native language
Treat everyone with respect even if they do not respect you
Use 3rd party app to validate people but check each account manually
I could go on but here is the search for my name. Review it and decide for yourself Why I am in the dog house I do not know
I will keep you posted
PS - you can also follow the discussion on facebook regardless of outcome will keep you informed so that this can be a learning experience and so that what ever I did you will know and those of you who also post legitimate content and not spam can learn how to avoid.
Chris Voss has been a CEO, built, managed and invested in over 22 Corporations in differing fields of industry for over 20 years.
