Blog

Follow Your Dreams and Keep Looking on the Bright Side

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 06:00:00 +0000

My oldest son graduated from Oakton High School in Vienna, Virginia the other day. For many of his classmates, it was an occasion marked by feelings of intense pride, quiet anticipation and hope. So it was fitting to mark the end of their high school years and the beginning of the rest of their young lives with a commencement address by Class of 2000 Oakton High School alumnus and entrepreneur Adam “Ace” Moyer, Founder and CEO of Knockaround™. Ace’s message to the graduates was simple. If you have an idea, follow your dreams. No experience is necessary. With the support…

Happy Father's Day

Sun, 16 Jun 2013 05:00:01 +0000

Today is the third year people can say to me, "Happy Father's Day." As an older parent, having children makes you (I believe) more acutely aware of your personal and family life. For me, it also makes me think of how grateful I am for my good friends, trusted colleagues, and loyal clients. What positive things does it make you think of?

All Great Customer Experiences Begin with a Smile

Tue, 11 Jun 2013 06:00:00 +0000

In an instant, I can always tell what my experience is going to be with a brand, company or organization I am interacting with for the first time. In most cases, I can see it. Where I cannot see it, I can hear it. And regardless of whether I can see or hear it, I can almost always feel it. In a word, it’s a smile. A smile is contagious. It starts with your employees and how they greet one another at the beginning of their work day. It extends to how they greet your customers at every touch point…

If You’re in Sales, Tell Me Something I Don’t Know

Tue, 04 Jun 2013 06:00:00 +0000

I read an article by best-selling author and syndicated columnist Harvey Mackay (“Swim with the Sharks without Being Eaten Alive”) in the Washington Business Journal the other day where he cited research that shows “buyers are not reaching out to contact salespeople and sales organizations until they’re 60-70 percent along in the decision process.” The simple truth is customers are doing their homework. They are going online and researching the answers to their needs and problems. They are forming opinions on who they think can best help them. Then they are reaching out to sellers for the one thing they…

Match the Picture in Your Advertisements to Your Message

Mon, 03 Jun 2013 17:24:43 +0000

I received this advertisment from Flickr. I like the content, style, layout, and message. I would prefer to see a smiling person(s) instead of a flower. The message, in bold white letters, is "Smile." If the folks at Flickr really want to use a flower (assuming a connection to Spring), then use smiling people holding flowers or running in a field. Your photography and imagery should always match the picture. Otherwise you run the risk of creating messaging disconnects. Messaging disconnects reduce click-throughs, success of call-to-action buttons, signups, purchases, and so forth.

Advice for This Year’s Graduates: Make It About “Them”

Tue, 28 May 2013 06:00:00 +0000

In a few weeks, I will attend my 30th college reunion at Fairfield University. It’s hard to believe so many years have gone by since I received my undergraduate degree in Marketing and said goodbye to the place that had been home for four great years. As I scanned photos of this year’s commencement activities on the University’s Facebook and Instagram pages the other day, it was easy to take myself back in time. I remember thinking on graduation day I had made it. I did it. I had become one of my family's first-generation college graduates. I had no idea what the…

Great Example of a LinkedIn Connection Request

Fri, 24 May 2013 05:00:01 +0000

Irrespective of your accomplishments or years of experience, everyone should personalize a LinkedIn request. Here is a great example. Yesterday I received this request from a recent graduate. It was to the point, personalized, and short. I gladly and quickly accepted. If you can help Jimeisha, please reach out, especially if you in the Wash, DC area. She is seeking opportunities in disability services, education, outreach programs,and health care. Jimeisha's profile: www.linkedin.com/in/jimeishamcbride

Making a Difference One Bike at a Time

Tue, 21 May 2013 06:00:00 +0000

If the measure of one’s commitment to protecting the environment is the number of cars taken off the road as a direct result of an action, this year’s record-breaking turnout of participants in the Washington, D.C. region’s Bike to Work Day is tangible proof of the region’s growing concern for the environment. On a recent Spring day in mid-May, over 14,500 registered riders made a difference by taking their cars off the road for at least one day. Of course, like so many other causes, events like this would not be possible were it not for the generous support of like-minded…

Does Your Personal Bio Reflect Your True Self? If Not, Try Changing it...Just a Little

Fri, 17 May 2013 12:21:41 +0000

I am a huge fan of audio books. On the plane, in the car, and on the subway I am catching up on my favorite business books and for pleasure books. A colleague introduced me to John Scalzi, who is primarily a sci-fi writer. As I do every time with new authors, I read reviews on Amazon, biographies on Wikipedia and Amazon, and ask the referrering person more about style and substance. Reading John's bio on Amazon really piqued my interest. Reading the bio shows me he's a bit wry, funny, well-liked (he's won several awards), and has an interesting…

Overcoming Marketing Myopia

Tue, 14 May 2013 06:00:00 +0000

I recently posed the question, “How do you really know what your customers want?” I offered a simple answer by suggesting the way to truly understanding what your customers want is through continual engagement with them. I’m going to take that a step further today by offering another suggestion – the formation of a customer advisory council. A customer advisory council is a group of customers (and non-customers, too) who meet on a regular basis with representatives of your brand. Each of them would be paid a nominal sum for their participation and their purpose would be to serve as an external sounding…