by Ace Concierge | Virtual Assistant | Aug 13, 2014 | Leadership, Marketing, Social Media
Status quo or stand up and command market share? It isn’t so simple to grab a piece of the pie when there are billions of social media users and companies searching for and sharing information. You need to find your niche, your voice or something that sets you apart from the rest of the digital ecospace to glean even a few minutes of visibility.
You don’t need to blend in with the rest of the crowd but rise above and be a little unique. Whatever that means to you, do it authentically. Do it from the heart.
Don’t think of social media as purely a soapbox to sing your own praises. It is a tool to connect, share, educate and network, imparting value and enriching the lives of others. Be that someone that people look to for information and problem solving.
As you begin to develop your relationships and nurture your connections, the ROI is a natural occurrence when you focus on the real inherent value and purpose of social media – fostering the connections.
In a recent interview with my good friend and client, Patti Blackstaffe, president of Strategic Sense Inc, her thoughts about rising above the crowd were that too many people focus solely on the competition which only leaves them sitting WITH the crowd. Her recommendation is to leave competition out of the equation and pay attention to relationships and collaboration.
In the interview she offered 3 ways to do this:
1. Analyze what kind of relationship the customers are really looking for
2. What they want to share
3. Getting to know them intimately
Here’s what Patti said about analysis:
“People are looking for connection, relationship – this is a relationship economy. If you are without a means or way of connecting with customers, potential customers and the public, you have no choice but to be left behind.
You don’t have to use every social tool available, but analysis of your market and the type of relationship your customers are seeking is vital for knowing what to choose.
Leadership is about connecting the dots from the lead seat in your company all the way to the customer, knowing what they are looking for from you, gives you the option of creating a relationship they can get from no one else.”
[Tweet “It’s all about customer interaction, not fancy webpages or how often you post #RelationshipShare”]
Patti goes on to talk about sharing:
“Looking for market share? Look for relationship share.
One example is NAISH a kiteboarding company – they understand how to market, how to reach their customers. Do they sell kites? Sure, but that isn’t their main market, their market is building an experience, and their customers cannot build an experience without the relationship factor. Looking for video from them? They share the video of the adventurous customers who buy their kites. How did they know how to do this? They know their customers, intimately!”
Pertaining to customer intimacy, Patti gave this prime example:
“Does your executive, or even your sales team visit customers? Knowing what questions to ask is great, but what if you created a “day in the life” program where you spend a day in the life of your top 4 customers, what would their work-day look like and what do they need? Imagine a database filled with suggestions and solutions to meet customer needs, selectively using the many tools available to you through social media and other marketing genius, interact with them and make a difference.
This is how you increase relationship share!”
If you really want to stand out from the crowd, then build relationships. People buy from people. Add the human touch. Pull your focus away from what you want to give and get to know your customers and your audience by what they really need.
[Tweet “YOU are the CRO: Chief Relationship Officer. #relationshipmarketing”]
“Too many business owners and sales people try to sell their product or service, neglecting the fact that their customer is a person. In fact, the customer is a person who has feelings, influences and a mind of their own. They want to be connected with, and to trust and believe the person from which they are buying.” Rebecca Wilson
by Ace Concierge | Virtual Assistant | Oct 29, 2013 | Leadership, Life Thoughts
Many times in life things goes awry, causing you to lose something of value or assumed potential opportunity. You may at first experience sadness, anger, want to retaliate, feel resentment and want to otherwise lash out or bash the person or situation.
Take a step back.
Breathe.
Review the circumstances. Reflect on the situation as a whole.
- Did it always resonate and serve you?
- Did it bring you contentment and joy?
- What daily thoughts ran through your mind during general interactions?
- Were you satisfied or did you have lingering questions?
- What were your contributions to the scenario?
- Was it all that you had hoped it would be?
Without reflection, we go blindly on our way, creating more unintended consequences, and failing to achieve anything useful. Margaret J. Wheatley
If much of the discourse surrounding the events did not support your thinking, values, mission or ideals, then let it go.
The lessons may seem hidden at first, but there is always an opportunity for internal growth and a time for you to spread your own wings.
Take flight!!
Is it really a lost opportunity or just a motivator for change?
If you can, ask for feedback. It is another tool to help you grow and better perform the next time. What can you revise? Is there something in your thought processes and actions that require a little more fine-tuning?
Find your wrench and start tweaking.
Instigating change is an adventure as you are able to discover more about yourself, your company and how you relate to others. Don’t take the fall as something completely personal, especially if there were signs or signals that you just weren’t sure about. It may have nothing to really do with you at all. It could be their misconceptions or misinterpretations or lack of communication that was the impetus for the dissolution. There are always three sides to a story, yours, theirs and what is found in the middle, holding more facts than miscommunications or unheard words. Some things just aren’t meant to be and you are given signs to interpret and set in motion.
When you lose a contract, a client or even a friend, it seems like a kick in the pants, but what can you learn from it? Each and every “failure” is about improvement. Empower yourself to step up and mull over the whole situation, the entire experience. The past time invested doesn’t matter – it is the journey to enlightenment and change that creates the force within you to better yourself.
Opportunities to find deeper powers within ourselves come when life seems most challenging. Joseph Campbell
The more you are able to truly understand the internal workings of what transpired, you will appreciate the opportunity to flourish from this mishap. Even more so if you were apprehensive about the success in the first place. Follow your intuition as your gut seems to speak more loudly than your heart or your brain matter.
Celebrate the change.
The dynamics are just beginning.
It isn’t a missed opportunity at all!
It is an open door to greater abundance when you are able to let go of what no longer serves you.
Don’t be afraid to fail. Don’t waste energy trying to cover up failure. Learn from your failures and go on to the next challenge. It’s OK to fail. If you’re not failing, you’re not growing. H. Stanley Judd
Author: Brian Tracy
What changes will YOU make?
by Ace Concierge | Virtual Assistant | Sep 17, 2013 | Communication, Leadership, Social Media
When my daughter attended Montessori they had a plaque in the room that said: Be Kind.
So simple, yet so powerful.
Kindness is the basis for all relationships in the home and the workplace. Building long-term, mutual healthy connections relies on a few humble premises. Look at the people around you, past and present: do they resonate with your core values? What is their track record? Have they always been honest and forthright? Any red flags? Have you ever questioned their intentions or honesty?
I believe fundamental honesty is the keystone of business. Harvey S. Firestone
Communication styles vary from person to person, but honesty and truth should always take precedence, no matter your position, status, or relationship (business or personal). What we say and do is explicitly related to the measure of trust we have with others and they have in us. How you interact with someone is a reflection of your character and integrity. If you opt to forgo this most common sense trait, then you forfeit your reputation and connections.
Building credibility and trust requires authenticity, consideration, integrity, and intent. It is to be earned, not assumed. Reputations can be instantly destroyed, sales lost, partnerships dissolved. There is nothing more important than building trust; in your business, in your life.
Strengthening Relationships
- Engage in frequent honest communications
- Express gratitude
- Be well intentioned
- Demonstrate sincere interest
- Be present in the moment
- Actions speak louder than words
- Make sure your actions/decisions backup your words
- Say what you mean and mean what you say
- Transparency is key
- Listen and hear the other party
- Practice best behaviors
- Do what is right for the situation
- Always know the facts, don’t assume anything
- Never make presumptions about someone else’s decisions
- Don’t gossip and create unnecessary drama
- Keep your commitments
- Value and respect another’s time and voice
- Show compassion
- If you don’t know something, say so
- Relationships do NOT succeed on a need to know basis
- Ask yourself why you tend to omit information
- Re-examine yourself before you cast stones
- Clarity and understanding sets the stage – don’t close the curtains
- Vulnerability is a strength
- Spin your life from the heart, not for gain
- It isn’t all about you
- Act don’t react
- Be open to positive change
- If you want trust, be trustworthy
- Ask for feedback
What you get in your life is not a result of what you want, it is a result of Who You Are. ~ Marlon Smith
