Jobinablog

Before you send that email, just think for a second...

2008-06-05T09:06:19+01:00

We all send them every day, but do you think about what you are doing before you press send? Believe it or not Seth Godin - who can only be described as one of todays thought marketing Guru's - has created a very interesting checklist of 34 (yes 34!) things you should consider once you have written the email AND before you send it. I guarantee this will get you thinking!! They are:

Really? They've written back? (if no, reconsider email).
If it is a cold-call email, and you're sure it's welcome, and you're sure it's not spam, then don't apologize. If you need to apologize, then yes, it's spam, and you'll get the brand-hurt you deserve.
Am I angry? (If so, save as draft and come back to the note in one hour).
Could I do this note better with a phone call?
Am I blind-ccing my boss? If so, what will happen if the recipient finds out?
Is there anything in this email I don't want the attorney general, the media or my boss seeing? (If so, hit delete).
Is any portion of the email in all caps? (If so, consider changing it.)
Is it in black type at a normal size?
Do I have my contact info at the bottom? (If not, consider adding it).
Have I included the line, "Please save the planet. Don't print this email"? (If so, please delete the line and consider a job as a forest ranger or flight attendant).
Could this email be shorter?
Is there anyone copied on this email who could be left off the list?
Have I attached any files that are very big? (If so, google something like 'send big files' and consider your options.)
Have I attached any files that would work better in PDF format?
Are there any :-) or other emoticons involved? (If so, reconsider).
Am I forwarding someone else's mail? (If so, will they be happy when they find out?)
Am I forwarding something about religion (mine or someone else's)? (If so, delete).
Am I forwarding something about a virus or worldwide charity effort or other potential hoax? (If so, visit snopes and check to see if it's 'actually true).
Did I hit 'reply all'? If so, am I glad I did? Does every person on the list need to see it?
Am I quoting back the original text in a helpful way? (Sending an email that says, in its entirety, "yes," is not helpful).
If this email is to someone like Seth, did I check to make sure I know the difference between its and it's? Just wondering.
If this is a press release, am I really sure that the recipient is going to be delighted to get it? Or am I taking advantage of the asymmetrical nature of email--free to send, expensive investment of time to read or delete?
Are there any little animated creatures in the footer of this email? Adorable kittens? Endangered species of any kind?
If I had to pay 42 cents to send this email, would I?

Build your brand through being in a community

2008-06-03T08:49:27+01:00

Today I read a great article on Building a brand through Community, by Connie Bensen, who is a respected voice in the social community space. If you have a corporate blog, and have people managing it for you, or you have your own blogs that you are involved with, then this article is a must read.
She covers all aspects of how to improve your brand and the actions you need to do to make it happen. It is also checking Connie's blog for some more good insights into building social communities.

Web 2.0 at work, the Generation Y way!

2008-05-29T09:52:04+01:00

Generation Y are in our workplace now and will be around for a good while yet, so isn't it essential that employers really start to understand what they are like as employees? They do have a different mindset, and therefore will have different ways of approaching work- some good and some bad. Sacha Chua, has produced this slideshow to show what the generation Y take to web 2.0 is within IBM.

| View | Upload your own

When you have clicked through that, check out an exciting video defining what generation Y -or Media Snackers - are really about. It is a great 1.27 minutes definition!!

How big is your untapped recruitment marketing potential?

2008-05-27T10:24:33+01:00

As a business you are sitting on a huge untapped wealth of future potential candidates. Sounds mad doesn't it, but what I am referring to is your untapped recruitment marketing potential of your business. Chris Cardell, a recognised business thinker, lists these areas of your business where your hidden wealth could be, and the areas where you have not optimised or maximised your marketing strategies. I have expanded and ammended these to give direct relevance to the recruitment sector.They are:

Every brochure, letter or email you write that does not build, create or nurture a deep and outstanding relationship with your potential employees.
Every letter or email that you would like to write but simply don’t get around to.
Every penny you spend on recruitment advertising that does not work.
Every penny you spend on recruitment advertising that does not utilise the proven techniques for improving candidate response levels.
Every job seeker that you don’t thank for their conacting you for employment.
Every job seeker that you don’t ask for a referral of anothr job seeker.
Everyone who contacts you who is never converted into a future potential employee or referrer.
Every magazine, newspaper, radio or TV station that you don’t appear on because you think PR is complicated.
Every person who visits your web site who you never hear from again.
Every week or month that goes by without you sending an email to your prospective job seekers/ prospective employees giving them some information of real value to them.

So you can see there will defiantly be something here that your business can benefit from doing. Go on take a couple of ideas and run with them!

Generation Recruiting Values

2008-05-21T10:23:44+01:00

Recruiting staff , and more importantly getting the right staff has never been more tricky. Each different generation - generation X , generation Y, generation Z and the baby boomers - has a core set of values that define the group as a whole. Life events and experiences shaped each generation’s way of thinking. They have specific beliefs, opinions and values that they uphold. These generations needs to know that the company they are looking to join supports what they believe to be valuable. The values your business website conveys are important.

Your business has core values that it conveys to your target audience. Those values might be quality and professionalism or being socially conscious and responsible. Maybe your business website shows you believe in hard work and effort or being different from the rest. Generation X might like friendly, slightly cocky content. Generation Z may like even more radical content. Baby Boomers may like a site that stimulates thoughts of self-gratification and leisure. Generation Y might be searching for what’s cool and trendy.

Different generations will prefer completely different businesses based on their beliefs and values. A person from either of the generations may be seeking the same product - but they’ll hire, buy or work with a person who believes in what they do. So you need to make sure that your website content conveys the right values for the generation of buyers you want and need to attract.

James Chartrand has highlighted some values to look for :

Baby Boomers: personal gratification; personal growth, health and wellness; optimism and positive attitude; teamwork and being involved.

Generation X: diversity and global thinking; self-reliance and independence; life balance; fun and informal attitude; technologically literate.

Generation Y: confidence and achievement; sociability and collective action; diversity and morality; street-smart; optimistic and savvy.

Generation Z: no real respect for authority; non conformity encouraged; lacking social skills; web savvy; mobile messaging key; don't know what hard work is (yet).

Targeting your market means intimately knowing who’s going to feel good about your business…

How to use Forums to drive traffic to your corporate blog

2008-05-19T09:23:16+01:00

So you have taken the bold step of creating your first corporate blog, but how do you drive traffic at your new site? There are several ways that you can do this - one of them is to use forums specific to your industry sector to do just that. First, look for forums that are popular with your customers, and then become an active participant in them. Not only will you boost your reputation as an industry expert, you’ll also get some great inbound links pointing back to your site.

To find your customers’ favorite forum hangouts, simply type your top keyword phrases into a search engine, along with the word, "forum." Just be aware that there’s a RIGHT way to promote your business in public forums… and a WRONG way. Derek Gehl, the prolific US based internet marketeer kindly shares his 7 Tips for using Forums to drive traffic to your blog.

1. Lurk before you leap!

Before you start wading into a forum with your opinions and advice, hang out as a silent "lurker" for a while and get to know the "flavor" of posts that are considered acceptable. Every forum is different, so what might be considered humorous in one could be offensive in another. Learn who the "regulars" are, what questions are typically asked, and what responses are given. Then do your best to follow the accepted model.

2.Focus on "relationship selling" — NOT product selling Forum promotions are all about selling YOURSELF as an industry expert, with a wealth of knowledge to share — they’re NOT about selling your actual product!

In a forum, gimmicky sales tactics and hype do NOT work. Unless you want to enrage the other participants, don’t post blatant "buy my product" advertisements. Instead, look for opportunities to respond to questions with the exact information the people asking the questions are looking for. The trick is to sit back, listen, and wait for legitimate opportunities to share your expertise. This will help you gain the community’s respect and develop a solid relationship with your target market.

3.Attach a "sig file" to all your posts

An electronic signature — also referred to as a "sig file" — is a three- to six-line footer that you can attach to the bottom of your forum postings. You absolutely MUST make sure your sig file contains your name and site URL as well as a link to an informative article or newsletter subscription article! For example, your sig file might look something like this:

All the best,

John Smith

==========================================

FREE REPORT: "10 Cheap and Easy Tricks for Increasing The Value of Your Home by $10,000 in Less Than 1 Week"

To claim your free copy, visit: http://www.topvaluerealestate.com

==========================================

Not only does this provide a relevant inbound link pointing to your site for every post you publish on the forum, it also encourages other forum participants to check out your site and see what it has to offer.

4.Score brownie points by doing the footwork for others

If someone asks you a question and you don’t know the answer, admit it — then tell the person you’re going to do some research to find the answer, and will get back to them once you do. It’s a great way to prove you’re willing to "go the extra mile" for your customers. (Just make sure you follow through on your promise!)

5. Encourage visits by announcing site updates

Once you’re a regular forum participant, invite other participants to visit your site whenever you add something interesting or new to it (such as a new article or a holiday edition of your service). Just post a short note about the changes you’ve made then invite them to check out your website themselves.

6. Post informative articles that link to your site

Article posting is one of our favorite forum promotion strategies — and it’s one for the fastest ways to get instant sales from forums. The trick is to write an article that’s full of valuable information your target market is going to be excited to get their hands on. Then, at the end of your article, include a short biography that plugs your product!

Here’s an example…

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Derek Gehl specializes in teaching real people how to start profitable Internet businesses that make $100,000 to $2.5 million (or more!) per year. To get instant access to all the most profitable marketing campaigns, strategies, tools, and resources that he’s used to generate almost $100 million in online sales, visit: www.marketingtips.com.

… If the other forum participants like the information you provide in your article, you can bet they’ll click on the link in your "bio" to see what your site has to offer!

7. Focus on forums that DON’T accept advertising

There are two types of forums: ones that accept advertising and ones that don’t. Stick to posting in forums that DON’T accept advertising, because this is where you’ll get the best response. If you follow these 7 tips, and always remember to be a polite and helpful participant, you’ll find that forums are a great place to generate more leads for your business.… Plus, you’ll have the chance to "hang out" online with people who share your interests — your future customers!

The Social Media Reverse - 10 reasons to stay away

2008-05-16T17:03:57+01:00

You have heard everyone go on about social networking (including me) and how you should be Myspacing, Facebooking, Twittering etc but what about considering the flipside of social networking. Could you think of ten reasons why not to be involved in social media sites? Would you even miss it if you did? Would your life change dramatically if you didn't twitter? John Mariotti has written an excellent alternative arcticle about why he is now staying away from social media - here are his 10 main points:

1. Social Media/Networking is an invitation to at best, uncontrolled and permanent over-exposure, and at worst, identity theft or misuse.

2. All of us are drowning in a tidal wave of complexity already, and these social networking sites make this complexity worse by an order of magnitude.

3. Social networking is in the evolutionary stage, and as such, all of the sites that exist now will change, evolve become either more useful and secure or go away. The lessons are there in recent history: Compuserve, early versions of AOL, Prodigy and all the other now defunct or otherwise transitory Internet, email or proprietary Web systems.

4. Just when a lot of people learn to use one of the social networking sites/systems, someone will come up with a newer, better, cooler or more fashionable one.

5. Security of social networking sites is as great a risk as passing business cards around in a busy bar. No matter how many times the site owner/operator promises your information will be protected, secure, etc., the lure of money will make them liars. Someone will buy the site for the contacts that come with it — period. Then they will sell those lists to as many people and companies as will pay for them, to do whatever they wish with them.

6. There are many other, more focused ways of networking and marketing instead of placing your identity, your information, photos, etc. in the public — very public — domain.

7. Real business people realize that this social networking trend is superficial. True relationships may originate in email or other similar venues, but must become personal and not electronic to be of meaningful value.

8. The hassle of meddling with your computer and the so-called “easy to use” interfaces of such social networking sites is far too great compared to the complexity it adds.

9. When I want to expand my network, I want to choose who will be involved and know that their involvement is willing and enthusiastic — not the result of an email and a few clicks of the mouse.

10. I am simply too busy to meddle with something that is at least largely populated with people who have nothing better to do with their time, or others who think is it somehow an easy way to really be connected to a lot of people.

So there you go, there is someone who seems firmly set on staying away from social media - me I am firmly staying put in the social media environment - I enjoy it too much!!

How do you build your online brand?

2008-05-15T12:43:36+01:00

The advent of all the many social media channels, have made brand building 'more interesting'. There are now many ways that you can look to build your brand online in a very cost effective way. Like SEO it takes a little time and persisitence to succeed. Chris Garrett a social media consultant has written this excellent post on how you maximise all the channels - but only the ones that are relevant to you.

As you can see the focus of the brand building is the blog. You use all the other media to drive people back to 'your brand' - your blog.

So I say again, why haven't you got a blog yet??

If you missed this advertising faux pas.......

2008-05-14T09:34:32+01:00

If you haven't already seen this on my Sirona Says blog, then this video will certainly bring a smile to your face!!

It demonstrates that when designing an video add campaign, make sure you keep it vaguely legal (from an employment law point of view anyway!). Careerbuilder have got alot of press from this but they don't seem too bothered!! So enjoy this video and if you are a bit of a prude, look the other way!!

10 Ways to Reduce Your Recruitment Costs

2008-05-12T11:14:29+01:00

Is your recruitment budget already running on empty this year? Well if you need to looking at reducing your recruitment costs, here is a document I wrote recently that highlights 10 ways to start reducing your recruitment costs.

I guarantee that you won't be using them all!!