Connect-IMCAZ

Getting the Word Out

"Is there a way to let people when I've posted something new on my blog?"

There are several methods available for you to inform your readers that you have added something new to your blog. The important underlying premise is - to repeat Seth Godin's mantra - permission. Adding someone's name to your 'I have a new blog post' mailing list is counter to the spirit of blogging and social media. Leave the decision to opt-in to your readers.

1. Subscribe via Email

Tell your readers about the Subscribe via Email mini-form in the left sidebar of the blog. All they need to do is to enter their email address and each time you publish a new article they will automatically receive it in their in-box within about 24 hours.

2. RSS

If your readers understand what RSS is, they can subscribe to the blog using one of the many RSS readers available. INternet Explorer 7 has a built-in RSS reader, and there are several free online readers to chose from.

3. Twitter

A lot of us are using Twitter these days. You and your readers can join Twitter for free. Once you join, you can send messages (called tweets) using SMS (text messaging) from your phone, from the Twitter web page, or one of several free Twitter client programs available. I use Twhirl. Your readers subscribe to your Twitter stream (in Twitter parlance, they follow you) can receive your tweets in real time.

4. Plaxo

Plaxoi is one of many social networks that provide a notification facility to its members. You can hook your blog up to Plaxo and then each time you update it, Plaxo will include it in the Plaxo Pulse email.

Other social networking tools like LinkedIn and Facebook offer similar capabilities.

5. FriendFeed

One of the most popularand fastest-growing social media tools is FriendFeed. Friend feed is not so much a social network as it is a tool for aggregating all your friends' blogs, twitter streams etc in one place. I use it to keep up with many of my friends.

You forgot to mention...

Yes, I know. I've not mentioned several dozen other alternatives. I've only scratched the surface. New social media tools are appearing on the scene every day. It's easy to get distracted by every bright shiny new object that comes over the event horizon. On the other hand, we all need to keep up with the availability of great tools to help us grow our businesses.

Are you putting WOM to work for your consulting business?

A relatively recent article in Inc. Magazine (http://www.inc.com/magazine/20060401/priority-marketing-terms.html) defines word-of-mouth marketing:

"Word-of-mouth marketing is any initiative that prompts customers to talk to other people about a product or service. There are several breeds.
• Viral marketing
Promoting products or services through messages and video spread by consumers via e-mail.
• Buzz marketing
Winning attention for products by putting them in the hands of celebrities.
• Influencer marketing
Targeting the connected or cool people that lemmings will most likely follow.
• Stealth marketing
Marketing disguised as something else. Word-of-mouthers consider this their evil twin. Anyone who thinks ill of word of mouth, they contend, is probably confusing it with this."

Here are my "two cents" on these techniques, as a word-of-mouth marketing strategist:

I like to call Viral Marketing "word-of-mouse" marketing. It's easy, inexpensive, and can work well if the message is valuable to recipients.

Buzz Marketing doesn't have to involve just celebrities, it can include any industry leader, speaker, or loyal customer who is eager to share info about your services.

That ties into Influencer Marketing, as well. Influencers are not the only "cool" people when it comes to talking up your services.

Stealth Marketing includes paying people to talk up your services "on the street" which is unethical. Such underhanded schemes masquerading as true word-of-mouth are one of the main reasons Andy Sernovitz and friends formed the Word of Mouth Marketing Association (http://www.womma.com/) in 2004.

Are you using any of these WOMM techniques in your practice? If so, what worked or not?

Ann N. Videan, APR
Videan Unlimited marketing connections
www.videanunlimited.com

Need free consulting advice? Free business development advice?

Once again, for members we have a new way for you to get more from your membership (what's next?  personal delivery of a cup '0 joe every morning?  :)

We are starting our Advisory Group, which is an opportunity for those wanting advice and those wanting to give it. 

In a nutshell, we will compile a group of people who are willing to meet 1:1 for one hour at no charge with another (member) consultant who has a specific question.  Then we match people up --  those who have questions with those who are willing to provide it! 

The chapter's only role will be to serve as a "go-between", essentially, for those who are not sure who to approach for advice.  That said, if the member has someone in mind they would like to ask (and is not on our list), we are also happy to ask for you.

The details on this program will come together likely in Sept 07, so if you have ideas or input, please write here.  What are your thoughts on this?  Will you step up to help project manage this for the good of the chapter?

The goal, in concert with our vision, is to create community between our members and provide a supportive & successful environment for all.  And need I mention:  Get Smart, Get Known and Get Business.  (And get a cup 'o joe?)

Advise Appreciated

Ok now it is time to ask for some advice from my more experienced colleagues.

I met with a potential client today who absolutely needs to employ my services in order to be successful. The methodologies I advocate (leveraging social media for marketing and PR) are pretty new to the business world. There were two principles. The decision maker appeared to be stuck in the conventional, old-world model. The other 'gets it' but I suspect does not have enough influence to sway the decision-maker.

How do some of you convince a sceptical decision-maker that the revolutionary product or service you offer is not only key, but his only hope of success?

There are many great success stories, some of which I used today. Unfortunately, I don't have enough of my own success stories yet to carry the day solely based upon my own reputation.

Thanks in advance