Expectation of Instant Results

“As designers go, I’m long in the tooth. I learned design “old-school” — rubylith and type galleys and paste-up with waxers — the last of a dying breed.

Being online has been changing my industry for over 20 years. I have been lucky in that I’ve been “growing old” with the technology… from early forums and bulletin boards to today’s twitter and video streaming technology… it’s mind blowing if I think about how much it’s changed. What I’ve noticed most, however, is not only our reliance on it, but the expectation of instant results. 

The pace has become frenetic. It’s more of a pressure cooker than ever. When I started in the business, concept was king; now it’s content. Produce more, but with less… less money, less creative, less time, less space. The notion of getting a profound message across in 30 seconds was a challenge 20 years ago… now do it in 140 characters. Gray mares like me can find it pretty exhausting. The fact that I’m writing this at 11 pm after rising at 4 am and working all day should underscore that message.

Freak, I could write an essay on this… I’d better stop now…”

Patricia Simoneau of Grassroots Marketing & Brand Design
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Engage and Build Relationships

“I help moms revitalize their careers and bodies through coaching, workshops, classes and personal training.  When I’m not interacting with clients one-on-one, social networking sites like LinkedIn and Facebook provide an opportunity to share value-added content, tips and resources.   My business, CareerFit Mom (www.careerfitmom.ca), has reached a broader audience through Twitter and I personally learn something amazing from following folks I might not have otherwise had a chance to meet.  Social networking lets me engage others, build relationships and provide support to other moms, but you know what, it is super fun too!”

Beth Yarzab of Career Fit Mom

 

 

Generated Revenue

“Social Media has allowed me to connect with my readers which I feel is a very powerful resource. I receive feedback from my fan base and it allows me to share new information about my site, share promotional contests, new ideas and much more.

Facebook and twitter have increased traffic to my web site and to my newsletter subscriber list. I think it also helps give my business, a face and a story not “just a site”. It also has helped me to better understand my visitors by directly hearing right from them.

In regards to business, twitter has opened many business doors:marketing, promotional opportunities and has helped engage sales as well. Being a small company of one, it has generated revenue to help get my website name out there and it has opened doors for potential clients to see and “hear”who I am.

Reduce Spending

“Social Media has changed the way I do business.

Being online has had an extremely positive impact on my business because  I live in the rural area it has allowed me to reach out and build a community of relationships beyond my backyard. I have been able to significantly reduce the amount I was spending on print media, increase my visibility ,become part of organizations I may not have otherwise known about and has been an incredible tool for seeking out joint venture opportunities. Being online has also increased my productivity by having most information within a clicks reach.

I am pretty confident that my business would not be the same without being online.”

Shelley Strait of The Cash Creator Coach and The Real Growth Retreat

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Tell My Story

“Several years ago, I started a business selling a baby product I’d invented. I paid thousands of dollars for a professionally developed website thinking once I launched the site, orders would come. But they didn’t. I still had to market the product via old-fashioned avenues like public relations and advertising–both of which can be costly. I had no other way to reach the public and eventually closed the doors. But now, with my new business venture, I can barely keep up with the vast and varied ways I can let consumers know what I’m doing. I can blog, tweet, post, link, and pin. And that’s just the beginning. I can digg, stumble, start a channel, and more. Sometimes it’s overwhelming. I’m working now to craft my message for each venue and find out which one creates the most conversion to sales so that I can focus on those opportunities that are most effective. I still have to work just as hard to promote my product, but I don’t have to pay for the opportunity to promote nor do I have to wait for a newspaper or magazine to decide I’m newsworthy. It’s up to me to tell the story.”

Shelley Hunter of  Gift Card GirlFriend

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Building Connections

“The biggest way social media has changed my business is by expanding the connections I have with people I likely would not have met any other way.  These connections have resulted in great conversations, learning, shared resources, being a guest on Blog Talk Radio and teleseminars, being approached for collaborative book writing projects, speaking engagements and new friendships.
I engage via Facebook (http://facebook.com/CreativeWellnesswithLyndaMonk), Twitter (@LifeWriterCoach) and LinkedIn (http://www.linkedin.com/in/lyndamonk).  I have a lot to learn about how to use each of these amazing tools/platforms/communities to make a greater contribution as a coach, speaker, and writer online.  With the goal of learning in mind, I participated in the Social Media Camp 2011 in Victoria, BC, Canada where over 600 people gathered from Canada, the US, and beyond to explore more about how to use social media in business and in life.
I love connecting with people who inspire online – people who have a positive message and information/tools to share that contribute to individual and collective health, wellness, creativity, personal growth, and success.  My business is Creative Wellness – Awakened Living with Life Source Writing.  I inspire and teach helpers, healers, and others who make a difference to nourish their spirits, prevent burnout, and fill their emotional cups with a holistic reflective writing practice.  Social media is a great place to make a difference with words!”

Promote Others

“I think in answer to your question—the answers are really endless but for me, personally, it is not only a way to promote your products to current and potential users but it is a way to also help the mompreneur community also. We can help promote others. I have found countless guests for my radio show through social media. I have found resources for doing business through LinkedIn, and I have found stores to carry my products through Facebook and Twitter.

Now with Pinterest entering the social media marketplace with a completely different type of platform while using Facebook and Twitter—it is integrated marketing at it’s finest form. One is able to reach so many more people with limited financial resources than ever before.”

Tagged In:business, business success, business women, online business, small business, social media, Social media business, social media consulting, social media success, social media training

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This morning I was watching my son’s hockey game. He is in Novice so the kids are between 7 and 9. While I was sitting there admiring how talented and dedicated these youngsters were, it got me to thinking. Being an entrepreneur is a lot like playing a game of hockey. It is all about showing up, trying you’re hardest, working as a team and most of all believing in yourself.

During the game there were some really amazing goals, passes, saves and surprise moves but two in particular really caught my attention.

The first boy was an extremely skilled player; you could tell he had all the moves. He was just as fast as the other players; his stick handling was as strong if not stronger than the other players and he seemed to know where he needed to be before it happened. So what I saw next caught my attention. He was lined up in front of the net, his team member passed him the puck, it was a clear shot, the goalie would have never caught it, all he had to do was take aim and hit it in… but what happened was while the puck was in motion you could see the boy’s body language change. The self-doubt monster popped up and showed its mean face and in that split second the boy hesitated, so when he took the shot, he missed the net by about a foot, the goalie jumped on it and it was a no goal.

Later in the game, another boy caught my attention. This boy was a bit more awkward, his skating skills are not at the level of the other players yet, his stick handling was a bit less skilled but he was a team player and always right in the middle of the action. He is known to be involved in some high energy passing and never thinks twice to hand off the puck if he is unable to make the shot. Today, this boy was back by the blue line, his team member passed him the puck, he was ahead of the action and rather than passing it or skating it toward the net, he lined it up and slapped it. In reality no one expected it to go in, but guess what? The goalie didn’t expect it either and it was ALL NET! It was a beautiful goal. The parents jumped and cheered and were happily amazed at the great goal.

So what did these kids do different and how does it have anything to do with business?

Boy number 1 represents the self-doubting entrepreneur. You know who you are. You have an amazing business but you are unsure of your ability. You will often hold back from pursuing great opportunities because you are “JUST NOT READY” In other words your website isn’t perfect, your packaging isn’t spot on, you haven’t completed your sales material yet. So rather than jumping in and trying you wait for the day that everything is PERFECT. But the truth is the second you take to wait for “Perfect” is often too long, and you have missed your shot. This is when the competition jumps in and asks for the sale, and your opportunity is lost to someone able and willing or you just start to lose interest in the game and give up before you even begin.

Boy number 2 represents the risk taker. The risk taker knows that you miss 100% of all shots that you don’t take. They are the type that when offered a great but challenging opportunity say “yes Thank you, I can do that” and then decide how they will do it. They are the ones that know everything can be figured out. They know that the risk is worth the reward. They make their own destiny. They know that failure is not the worst thing in the world. For example, if boy number 2 had missed the goal what is the worst thing that would have happened? He would have skated to the puck and tried again? That’s not too bad is it? So in business what is the worst thing that can happen?

Sometimes believing in yourself is all you need to succeed. The first boy may have got the goal if he had enough confidence to shove it in and the second boy who never thought he would land that goal did because he believed he could and took a chance.

My advice for all of you is to learn from these young athletes and take a leap of faith. Believe that what you want is obtainable. There are enough doubters in the world; we need believers, dreamers and jumpers. So next time you have a target in mind, line it up and take a strong, confident hit and maybe you will be lucky enough to catch all net!

Tagged In:business, business lessons, business success

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