We were strolling along the piers at the Wharf in San Francisco (it is a scenic view, I can tell). Suddenly, I saw a huge group of people, scrambling and squeezing in front of a 30-foot window. I looked up and saw the Boudin Bakery sign.

On the other side of a 30-foot window, a woman was baking sourdough bread at the same time as she was communicating with people through a headset. I thought for myself. Wow! “This is when a social business runs smack into reality.” Because, I think, a social business is not necessarily a business that use social media tools to amplify their story. Does it make sense for you? For me, this is such a perfect example, when Boudin Bakery puts bakers in front a huge observation window. They let you and me see their team of experts crafting batches of bread by hand. You don’t need to be in the sourdough bakery business to execute a social business movement like this. Where can you replace brick and mortar with a transparent window?

A Social Company Culture In Action

What have Boudin Bakery really done here? We can see how they took down a huge part of the bakery wall, replaced it with a 30-foot window, and put headphones on “social” people. But before that execution, they have probably dropped the illusion of being in control. When a business moves in a transparent direction like this, they show how much they believe in their craft, their employees, and that they care about you and me. This is a social company culture in action. Later at Starbucks, this led to an interesting discussion with my friend Johan Lange (I hope to do an interview him here soon). He made an interesting point when he said:

-”I wonder how the leaders of Boudin Bakery reasoned? It would have been an awesome experience to talk to them.”

I can just agree with Johan. Or, what do you think?

Boudin Bakery Video

I found this video, it might give you a glimpse about our experience.

Listening Both Offline and Online

Look at what happened when I tweeted Johan Lange about my blogging ideas. Boudin Bakery replied, which is a great example that they are paying attention beyond the huge window, so to speak, both offline and online.

Transparency And How You Must Adapt

I often have discussions with people regarding the risks with blogging and social media. One thing, that so many brilliant minds still seem to miss, is that it is not their choice whether they should blog or tweet. Because people are already blogging and tweeting about you. Are you (Yes I’m looking at you) still paralyzed, because you are afraid that someone in your team should mess it up on your blog? What would happen, if the baker, farthest away from the window, took a chance and poked a finger in his nose? With all the cameras on the other side of the window, we could have watched it on YouTube seconds later. It would have been Yelp reviews all over the place. Despite the risks Boudin Bakery still chooses to stay transparent and communicate.

Not exactly rocket science to forecast where I will buy my next sourdough bread in San Francisco.

What are your excuses for not being a more transparent business? (And stop poking your nose, I can see you).

At the end of the day, you must accept the risks and adapt.

The post Boudin Bakery: A Lesson In Transparency And Social Business appeared first on MattiasGronborg.com.

This post might be a bit promotional, sorry for that (I’m looking at you). As a new media consultant, I experienced, how big the gap is between companies who see their website as a check in the box (like a business card). Compared to brands, who are breathing the online hustle, as a small publisher.

What Do I Mean

When I refer to the gap, I aim at the technology gap. I will break it down for you: Website technology, hosting, backup and a dedicated support. That helps brands keep their website cutting edge, by doing the necessary updates, the right ones without bugs and glitches. As a new media agency or consultant, it could sometimes be tiresome setting up strategies when client’s website framework is a decade old. It makes it hard to get tangible results when social and analytics intergrations doesn’t work properly. Does it make sense? This was something Robert Nyberg and I experienced when we developed digital strategies. A repeating loop, a new website became inevitable.

Oil Tankers Vs Usibilty

To solve this we started to cooperate with different Web agencies. It soon appeared to me, how different developers seemed to handle WordPress as a tool. I’m still today astonished how often developers miss to focus on the usability. They deliver oil tankers instead of customized scalable WordPress solutions. To make a long story short. After a bunch of pot holes, we met Jonas Moller. Our kick-ass-CSS-ninja over at iGoMoon. We had a united perspective of, how this should be done, and now we are rolling out with purpose. Check out some of the latest websites, or rockets as we prefer to say.

Looking For You

Now, I reach out to you (Yes, I’m still looking at you) who wants to participate, and be apart of our team of partners who develop the affiliate program over at iGoMoon. I would love to have that relationship with you. You might be a consultant, or an agency, who is in need of a dedicated WordPress solution firm, is that you? We could be your perfect match. I know you have a lot of choices. Thus, I would be grateful to get in contact with you, to discuss further how iGoMoon can be a part of your customer journey. Please contact me here!

Quick Summary

1. You might be a consultant or and Agency.
2. Your core is not WordPress solutions, but your work makes your customer ask you  if your can help them with website development.
3. You would like to make good commission by referring WordPress setups.
4. You will help us develop our partner program.
5. Easy peasy like that, promise!

Please contact me here for more how we can work together.

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Twenty minutes into a first aid course: We get the instructions to work in pairs. One person is lying on the floor, role playing to be injured (it seems to be me in this case). The other person is the one who should help the injured person (It’s a nice looking girl so I can’t complain). One of the first things, you do, when you give someone first-aid-help is to check if the person is conscious. In this exercise the person should be conscious. Thus, I’m lying there on the floor (on a blanket and it’s quite comfortable). My friend gets the instructions, to start communicate with me, by standing close to my feet. I’m still on my back on the floor. Thus, it’s a very strange angle to communicate with from, can barely see her, or hear her, it’s nothing else but an impersonal experience.

A Marketing Lesson

She then get’s the instructions to communicate with me by standing next to my head. I now looking up at her from the floor. Simultaneously, the instructor starts to step over my body and head, back and forth. He is making a point, and I get it. You must communicate at the same level as the injured person. It means, you should kneel next to the shoulder of the person, grab an arm or hand, and start talking calmly. This became an interesting learning experience. It’s very intimidating to have someone standing next to your head and another person, who is jumping back and forth over your head and body. The last thing I felt was connection and empathy.

Impersonal Or Personal?

I realized, when I was lying there on the floor. This is exactly how the majority of marketers treats people. I see it everyday in social media, on blogs, and email newsletters. They communicate with a talking-to-many-tone. They are broadcasting their message like these mediums were TV or radio. Being on the receiver’s end of this broadcasting-speech is not always so fun, can we agree on that? It’s nothing else than impersonal. Do you prefer hanging around impersonal or personal people? Thus, the next question is inevitable: Which level are you communicating with your friends, peers or customers? (Notice I didn’t say audience, followers or fans).

We Are Here Together

Let’s put this principle into a marketing perspective. Do you think you can then achieve a better result if you are marketing with people, and not at them? I believe, that attention is a gift in today’s world. I also know, that our relationship has a much better chance to grow and flourish, if you and I can slide towards a more personal tone in our communication. Remember, people make business with people. Are we on the same page here? I don’t take for granted that you choose to read my blog, or subscribe to my Email Newsletter. But if you do? I’m all ears. I want to hear from you what you think, I want to connect with you, I want to grow together with you. Thus, I hope, that you and I will get to know each other, won’t we?

The post How I see You appeared first on MattiasGronborg.com.

Today, we have my great friend Ray Hiltz from Montreal in Canada with us. Ray is a Social Business Strategist and the writer on newray.com. In this video, we chat about social media strategies, and mistakes Ray see companies do when they integrate social media into their existing business strategy. Ray is a great source for Google+ knowledge, and on newray.com you find a lot of Google Plus Resources. (check out the link). We also discuss how personal you can be if your personal brand is your business. Have you thought about that? I like this question, because it seems to be so many different ways to look at it. Ray gives us his perspective of what he thinks is the best way to tackle this challenge.

Questions I Asked Ray

• Who are you and what do you do?
• You are a social business strategist, What is the difference when you are adding social to business?
• You are big advocate of Google+, how did you end up in that niche?
• How personal can you be if your personal brand is your business
• What is your daily social media routine and what tools are you using?
• What book are you reading right now?
• Where are you headed, what is your next big project?

Big thanks Ray! 

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Can’t see the video, click here!

In this video, you and I get an opportunity to listen to a friend of mine, who really breath social media on daily basis. I’m very exited to present Sherry Nouraini from a sunny San Diego. Sherry is the Founder/President at Captivetouch and Open Social Media Initiative. She offer her clients a better way to learn social media. Captive Touch workshops follow a logical plan and address the specific needs for  your business. I suggest, that you ask Sherry, what kind of topic she will cover in her next G+ hangout [#openSM]. A great way to chat with her is on Twitter, click here.

Questions I Asked Sherry

• Who are you and what do you do?
• Tell people more about Open SM and give me the story behind it?
• You had a great bunch of people online, today, what did you talk about?
• When it comes to hosting your own online event, what have you learned so far? Pros and cons.
• What is your daily social media routine and what tools are you using?
• Any role models, that inspire you to grow?
• What book are you reading right now?
• Where can people learn more about you?

Thanks Sherry! You have been a great source of knowledge here.

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If you can’t see the video click here!

Today, I welcome Anthony Iannarino. Anthony is the President and Chief Sales Officer for SOLUTIONS Staffing, a best-in-class staffing firm, and the Director of B2B Sales Coach & Consultancy. We met each other in Chris Brogan’s Blog Topics Master Class. Since then I have been following his work more regularly. Anthony’s blog thesalesblog.com, is a top source when it comes to sales knowledge, sales is an interest we both share together. Thus, sales and social media is what we discuss in this video. We had some problem with the connection, though. But, the audio is great, so please stay with us.

Video Background

Many of today’s marketing executives grew up in a less-complicated and relatively mature world of TV, radio and print advertising. They are struggling shifting towards digital. However, they are not alone. Another group is sales mangers. They, seem to desperately hold onto the sales process 1.0 (Leads, Phone Call, Meeting, Close Order, Customer Care). I’m afraid a lot of sales managers are running sales processes with old due dates. Or, maybe the truth is, that the due date, has expired on the sales manger. This is something I want to discuss with Anthony in this video. Because, this is something I want to collaborate and support you doing, shifting digital.

What I Asked Anthony

• How he think sales managers should approach social media?
• If he believe that the work in the sales process will become more divided, between people, because of social media?
• What his best advice is for sales managers, that want to start seeking a more digital edge for their sales process?
• How important is blogging for B2B business?
• What kind of trends he sees in personal, and sales development?

Big thanks Anthony!

Last but not least! Here is Anthony’s latest project together with Chris Brogan: Find Your Super Power of Flight.

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If you can’t see the video click here!

In this video, I interview a person I respect very much. Let’s welcome my friend Robert Caruso. Robert is a long time technology, sales and marketing executive, a father of 2 and passionate about tech and social media. Robert loves coffee. He is always talking about coffee. Thus, I can’t enter a coffee shop without start thinking about him. I met Robert on Twitter. We are also in the same Social media mastermind group [#socialMM]. Robert is probably one of the most social media savvy persons I know. He is the founder of Bundle Post, a social content management system. I’m so grateful that Robert could join us, share his insights, and help you and me improve our online branding strategies. BIG thanks Robert!

Video Background

A while ago, it happened again. A business savvy person asked me: We need to reach out fast, what do you think about buying likes on Facebook? I thought for myself: Ohh, gosh! This must come to and end. People are grossly mislead by likes, followers, fans, Klout scores and community metrics. You and I, we need to start looking soberly at these metrics. (Note, however, I never said that those numbers are irrelevant).

You Are Fooled

It doesn’t’ make sense when brands fools us, by buying likes, followers and cheating the system. Robert wrote two great posts regarding this topic, and in this video he elaborate what he meant.

Robert’s Blog Posts:

• Social Media Revolution – You Will Get Called Out
• Social Media Is Becoming A Pressure Cooker That’s About To Explode

Questions I Asked Robert

• So Robert, You obviously not believe tweeting iPad, once and then, gives you 20 000 new spam followers?
• Can you elaborate what you meant with those posts?
• What do you think is the reason why people try to cheat the system?
• Why in the world, are we obsessed of these numbers?
• Why are we having these numbers a standard?
• How does this false facade impact the industry?
• Where do you see we are heading with this discussion, what does it take before the Pressure Cooker Will Explode?
• What is Steamfeed?
• Let’s flip side on the coin and talk about how to do it right, how to build a real online brand?
• If you were going to start over again with your online brand, what would you take from your past experiences, and what would you leave?
• Please tell us about your daily online, social media routines, and what tools are you using?
• Where can folks learn more about you?

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I woke up one morning. I had a clear thought in my mind. I needed to clean out a soul-destroying limitation, my non existent ability to express myself in English. I took the plunge. An insignificant step for mankind but a huge leap for me. Are you frustrated over a limitation in your life, is there an area where you can improve? I clearly see a red thread how I took my English from nothing to something (please stay with me here even if you are native speaking). Let’s define five important pillars for personal growth. Both you and I can use these pillars to improve anything in our lives.

Seek A Coach

Few things are better than having a coach in order to achieve a “flow” or get ourselves into “the learning zone”. To learn from someone who already has the skills creates a momentum for you. You should always seek people who are ahead of you, who have access to the knowledge that you desire. Thus, I got myself an English coach. We met frequently three times each week to build up my foundation. The more English I learned. The more I realized how little I knew. This was a tough moment because my patience was so underdeveloped.

Exercise Patience

A huge challenge, no matter what kind of skills sets we strive to develop in life. Is to overcome the resistance you meet on daily basis. We must be humble towards ourselves. To learn new things in life takes time. Sometimes it seems like we forgot this along the way when we became adults. Both you and I have a string of patience somewhere. We used it as kids to learn. Thus, we need to evoke it again. Patience and discipline is what we are using to overcome the resistance, that is draining our ambitions to grow.

Get Out There And Perform

This is a very critical point in order to maintain a strong learning curve. I early understood how important it was to get English as a part of my daily life. Thus, I started this blog. I read a great metaphor about learning new things in Wired that describes this perfectly: “It’s like playing guitar, if you are alone in your bedroom, there’s little reason to improve your craft. Getting up in front of a crowd and playing your music gives you a reason for improvement”. If  you want to grow a specific skill: Start breathing it.

Dripping Knowledge Into Your Mind

I learn three new English words every day. Where do I get these words from? I write down words I don’t understand when I perform my 30 minutes morning reading. I save them in Google translator as favorites, I then spend 15-20 minutes writing, and playing with these words. Dripping knowledge into your mind on daily basis creates a lever for you. How can you apply a lever like this? What kind of change would it create for you? For me, it sums up about 500 new words this year, and I’m still counting (I have missed a couple of Sundays, I admit that).

Waiting Time Is Classroom Time

My iPhone turns into my own classroom, when I travel, or waiting for a meeting. I have saved words in Google Translator that I always can repeat for myself. iTunes is always loaded with new episodes from Learn English Online. I also use these applications: English Grammar in Use and Advanced Grammar in Use. Never put your growth journey on the back burner. You can anytime turn your life into a classroom with today’s technology. It is an attitude.

The post 5 Pillars For Personal Growth appeared first on MattiasGronborg.com.

I remember when I ordered Trust Agents. I was so thrilled. Soon I would have DHL on my doorstep with my latest shopping cart capture. I shared with a friend about my latest checkout on Amazon. He said: Oh! That one is not so new, you might find it a bit antiquated. Now I know that the authors Chris Brogan and Julien Smith frequently update their New York Times Bestseller. They are guarding their turf, so to speak. Thus, I was never worried. I was still thrilled. In this post I will give you some take aways I received when I read the book. I will also share why I believe you need to read Trust Agents. (affiliate link).

Social Media Detox

Sometimes people make a spring cleaning for their health. Have you ever done a detox cleanse? (I have failed two times). Detox is good for your health because of all the artificial substances that we eat. Today, Internet is saturated, with artificial social media quick fixes which poisons your potential online success. I felt already after reading a couple of chapters how this book turned into being a true social media detox. Trust Agents will cleanse your system from quick fixes. And learn what it really takes; to using the web to build influence, improve reputation, and earn trust. 

A How To Manual

We all know that people don’t like manual’s, or, do we? I remember when I bought my new Nikon camera. I threw the manual over my shoulder, I thought: I don’t need to read it. But I must admit. I was crawling back for that manual after a while when it appeared to me; that I will never shoot epic pictures with the auto setting (when-you-only-push-the-button-setting). It’s the same thing with branding and online marketing. An “auto approach mindset” will not build influence on the Web. This is a marathon. And YOU have to make your own game. You can’t give away your responsibility to someone who is preaching quick fixes. This book is a blueprint, a pillar, a foundation, the how to manual for doing it right online.

For Who?

This is a smart book to read before you start your online career movement. Are you already a savvy swimmer in the online marketing pond? Don’t worry, this book will always be a perfect match for you. Because it’s a manual, remember? Although, this book is primarily about using the Web, the skills of Trust Agent can be applied to many endeavors.

Tasty Bullet Points

Learn for instance how to:

• Make your own game. By making your own game and forcing your competitors to keep up, you leave them at a disadvantage at every turn.
• One of us. Being seen as connected with others is very useful in any people-facing job, learn how to leverage this principle on the Web or off.
• The Archimedes effect. Leverage means never again having to reinvent the wheel. It never goes out of style.
• Agent zero. Create a wide network and you will never be in need of work. Connecting with others and building small, powerful networks is useful in ever kind of role. Both online and offline.
• Build an Army. Great leaders are not the best doing their jobs. They are the best at helping others to grow. The more people you have vouching for you, the wider your reputation spreads.

Trust Me

This book has not expired. TRUST ME. I believe Trust Agents provides the reader with immortal business principles. Reading this book, will instantly create an advantage for your career and your business. You want to create an advantage, don’t you? Grab your copy here! (affiliate link).

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I reflect upon my daily habits. At the same time when I absorb this breathtaking landscape. I write down my reflections in Evernote when I audit my daily habits. I want to understand where I invest my time. I want to know which habits I shall replace with new productive ones. How do you spend your valuable time? Which habits keep you headed in a purposeful direction?

Blueprint Of Habits

A huge influence in my life has been my passion for sports and health. I have developed strong training habits. I have been showing up on daily basis for decades in this field. My training habits beats all weather conditions, and accepts no excuses. These training habits are made of iron. I realize one thing when I make this audit. I can take the same blueprint I have used to create my training habits to build my new writing and blogging habits.

Override Old Habits

When I audit my current writing habits it looks very much like this: I only write when the mood strikes when I’m sitting behind the desk. Today I commit to start building the habits of writing all the time. I don’t need my office space to write. My training habits doesn’t need a gym. It’s time to override these non productive habits with new productive ones.

New Writing Habits And Beliefs

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