Successful Blog

Book Review: Spin Sucks, By Gini Dietrich

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Gini Dietrich is on a mission.

She is aiming to shift the practice (and then the perception) of the public relations profession, one mind at a time.

It’s a tough row to hoe, when we are inundated daily with reports of sneaky native advertising, journalist fakeouts, and “astroturfed” social content, much of it generated by so-called PR pros.

But Gini and the Arment Dietrich team represent the good guys, and in her new book, Spin Sucks: Communication and Reputation Management in the Digital Age, she explains exactly how communications, PR and media relations can be done with integrity and still get stellar results.

In fact, the tectonic shift is taking place everywhere. Power that used to reside in the hands of a few gatekeepers is now democratically spread out to the masses. You can no longer spray out a press release to a purchased list of emails and hope for the best. In a strange way, the digital tide is forcing us to hone our storytelling craft by taking away the crutches we used to rely on. Spin Sucks is full of real stories of success and #FAIL, told in Gini’s down-to-earth style.

Spin Sucks, by Gini Dietrich

I strongly recommend this book to anyone who is running a business (large or small), regardless of whether you’re working with an agency or doing it guerrilla style. If you are working with an agency, this book will give you a great baseline knowledge of an integrated marketing/communications/PR/media relations strategy. If you’re going it alone, use the book to experiment and be successful enough to hire a team of pros.

Key Takeaways from Spin Sucks

  • Be a storyteller, not a spinner.
  • Content creation is a long-term strategy, not a quick fix.
  • Create assets that reflect a mix of paid, earned, shared, and owned media.
  • Be honest and transparent in your dealings with the public; manipulation will backfire.
  • It’s time to stop working with content farms, scrapers, and plagiarists.
  • Get comfortable with the fact that your customers are really in control of your brand.
  • Learn to say “I’m sorry” with no embellishment or caveats.
  • The best way to repair online reputation is by overwhelming the negative content with your own great, useful, customer-valued content.
  • If you want to be prepared for the future, stay tapped into all of the disciplines that make up marketing communications…the lines are getting blurrier and blurrier.

What’s your best communications “war story?” Have you had to deal with a communications crisis?

Author’s Bio: Rosemary O’Neill is an insightful spirit who works for social strata — a top ten company to work for on the Internet. Check out the Social Strata blog. You can find Rosemary on Google+ and on Twitter as @rhogroupee

Disclosure: I was given an advance free digital copy of this book for review purposes; however that in no way altered my opinion or the content of this review. My personal story of guerrilla digital PR is mentioned in the book.

Is Your Business Focused on Big Data?

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abigdata

The amount of data that is created and owned by businesses has increased dramatically over the past few years, and this has made data management a more challenging task for many companies.

However, there are new technologies available to enable businesses to get the most out of their data, one of which is big data.

Here is a look at how adopting a big data solution can be beneficial to your business:

Overview of Big Data Management

Big data management refers to the act of organizing, administrating and governing large quantities of data, both structured and unstructured.

It aims to improve the quality and accessibility of data, so that it can be used for big data analytics and business intelligence.

With an effective big data management strategy, businesses can locate valuable data in large pools of semi-structured and unstructured data from a wide range of sources, including system logs, call detail records and social media websites.

Benefits of Implementing a Big Data System

Better Customer Service

To get the most out of your big data system, you need to stay focused on the big data bottom line.

A big data solution can help drive up sales by facilitating better customer service. With such a system in place, your employees will be able to perform real-time checks on your customers and provide helpful advice on products and services.

Additionally, big data can unite the physical and digital shopping spheres by allowing you and your employees to provide useful information about your physical stores through the Internet.

Enhance Product Development and Marketing

Another benefit of big data is that it enables you to gain a better understanding of your target consumers’ behavior and perception of your brand and products, and segment them according to demographic groups and geographical locations.

With such information, you will be able to develop products and services that can meet their needs more effectively, as well as fine-tune your marketing campaign to achieve better results.

Improve Decision Making

By implementing a big data solution, you will have easy access to accurate information on almost every area of your business, ranging from operations to product inventory. This enables you to identify problems and make well-informed decisions to improve various aspects of your business.

Big data also makes information more easily available to your employees, which can help them perform their duties more competently.

Big Data Trends in 2014

New solutions are constantly being developed to improve the effectiveness, efficiency and security of big data systems. As such, you can expect to see significant changes in big data trends in 2014.

According to expert predictions, these changes may include the transitioning of big data from hype to actionable intelligence, increasing use of data by traditional companies to generate revenue, growing importance of visualization tools as an IT expenditure and greater implementation of predictive analytics and machine learning.

In order to get maximum value from your big data solution, you need to make sure that you have the right combination of big data analytics tools, processes and people.

Photo credit: Forbes.com

About the Author: John McMalcolm is a freelance writer who writes on a wide range of subjects, from Cloud computing to social media marketing.

Tools For Writers: Save Time, Work Better

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By Angela England

I have a ton of projects at any given time. In fact, as I was just offered the position of Organic Gardening Guide for About.com I will be busier than ever! I wouldn’t survive all of that with five homeschooling kids, if I didn’t have some great tools under my belt to make it easier.

Tools for writers

Here are some of my favorites.

Steno Pads and Pencils

This seems so…so…eighteenth century, I know. But I carry half-sized steno pads with me everywhere for those times when I need to scribble something in analog. Don’t think that high-tech is the ONLY way to go. When it comes to brainstorming and outlining it is often faster for people to “think out loud” on paper and then translate that to digital once you’ve had that initial brain dump. I buy steno pads in bulk at Sam’s Club so I can easily scrawl in them whenever I want and they fit easily in the side pocket of the car, in the diaper bag, in my purse or laptop case, glove box, etc.

Poster Board or Big White Board

Large brainstorming sessions need bigger amounts of space. I have a technique I will use periodically to brainstorm about a hundred blog post ideas in less than an hour. I taught a workshop about it and you can watch the video here: Brainstorming Blog Post Ideas With Ease

The key is to write quickly and not be worried about how it looks or whether it makes sense. Or is spelled correctly. Get all the ideas out of your head and THEN focus on working them into a logical semblance of order.

Evernote

Speaking of working things into a logical semblance of order – Evernote is one of my favorite tools for capturing ideas on the go. I can clip a website, photo, screenshot, email, type a quick idea, etc from any connected device. My Evernote accounts link my phone, iPad, computer, laptop, etc., so I can easily grab that inspiring phrase from Facebook and plug it into Evernote to explore later. I can also gather research notes and materials and place them into “notebooks” according to website or book project to help me find it easily later. Evernote’s robust tagging and search functions make it one of the best online filing systems I’ve ever used. For more tips on using Evernote, I love this post by Alli Worthington – 10 Way to Use Evernote Like a Pro.

Scrivener

Whether I’m writing non-fiction or fiction, Scrivener is my favorite place to write now. And not only books, but other long-form projects like courses, blog series, feature articles for magazines, and more. The features Scrivener offers writers make it the perfect tool for any professional writer. Call it a cross between Word, Evernote, and your favorite Moleskine. It’s the best online writing tool I’ve come across yet and highly recommend it for anyone who writes anything bigger than 500 words in length.

Dropbox

Writers often have to send large chunks of material. Whether you’re sharing a project with a reviewer, sending your book to an editor, or working collaboratively with several people on a project, Dropbox is a great solution for storing and sharing large files. I especially love the ability to access Dropbox files while NOT connected to the internet (on the road with my laptop, for example) and update files (i.e., write more on my book or course or blog post series) and then have Dropbox automatically sync those changes with my main Dropbox account as soon as I’m connected again. I can store a file in Dropbox and access from any of my other connected devices (including mobile) and from public computers by logging in temporarily at dropbox.com. Keep folders private or share as desired for easy-to-control privacy levels.

These are the main tools I use on a near-daily basis when it comes to writing. Some are free, some are paid, some are high-tech, some are as old as time. All impact the work that I do in profound ways. What are your favorite tools as writers?

Author’s Bio: Angela England is a mother of five living in rural Oklahoma but more, she’s also a problogger, speaker, and author of several books including Backyard Farming on an Acre (More or Less) and Getting Prepared. Her most recent projects are helping people transform their blogs and business by publishing amazing books and producing multiple books this year under the Untrained Housewife brand.

How to Prepare for Your Wake-Up Call

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My Academy Award slipped through my grasp when I was in college.

Although I was a Political Science major, I had signed up for Acting as an elective. Sure that I would accidentally become the next Meryl Streep, I emoted my guts out, hung around with artsy friends who were making student films, and made it into the school musical.

There was just one tiny problem.

I was a terrible actor.

In the same way the Hindenberg was a terrible blimp.

And I only realized it when my acting teacher told me I’d better withdraw from the class or she was going to fail me. (Seriously? Who flunks the acting elective?)

Sometimes it takes an outside, objective force to bring you to your senses when you’re in the throes of a bad idea. A wake up call.

wakeup call

Recognizing When to Pivot

Starting a new business is the ultimate gamble. You’re pulling up a chair to the poker table and pushing all of your chips to the center.

It takes a special kind of guts to go beyond having a great idea, and actually start something that creates value.

It’s wonderful to have guts.

But it’s more important to keep perspective on the situation. Blindly charging ahead without ever stopping to evaluate your strategy is not smart.

“Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.” Albert Einstein

In gambling, you’re taking a calculated risk in order to potentially earn a big reward. Business is the same thing. You don’t have to put all of your chips on the table at once. You can test some ideas, play a few hands while you evaluate your fellow poker players.

When Odeo became Twitter, there was no guarantee that short, wonky status messages would become something that dominated the entertainment industry (hello, hashtag fever). The founders got the wake-up call that podcast subscriptions were about to be gobbled up whole by iTunes, and made a rapid course change.

Just because you decide to change direction, doesn’t mean success is guaranteed either. The jury is still out on whether Fab’s revamp from a social site to a shopping curation engine has worked.

The point is that when the wake-up call comes, you need to paying attention. You need to have resources you can marshal to respond to the call.

Make Sure You Recognize the Wake-Up Call

  • Have someone around who will speak the truth. Don’t hire yes men (or women).
  • Don’t fall in love with your own ideas. Keep an open attitude toward your creations, and allow the oxygen of alternatives into the picture.
  • Read, read, and read some more. Always be learning from others and improving your knowledge base.
  • Build in time to stop and evaluate the numbers. Look brutal reality in the eye on a regular basis.

Are you prepared for a wake-up call?

Author’s Bio: Rosemary O’Neill is an insightful spirit who works for social strata — a top ten company to work for on the Internet . Check out the Social Strata blog. You can find Rosemary on Google+ and on Twitter as @rhogroupee

Photo Credit: Alan Cleaver via Compfight cc

Tips to Successfully Selling a Business

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asale

It can be a challenge to own multiple businesses, but it can also be profitable and rewarding.

However, there may come a time to sell off one business so you can focus on the others. But choosing one to sell and completing the transaction can be difficult.

Here are some tips to help you make a successful sale:

Recognizing the Challenges

A person who owns multiple businesses is called a serial entrepreneur.

They have unique challenges that other business owners may not face. It is important that they recognize those challenges to make each business successful.

Business owners must learn how to manage their time and delegate tasks to others.
While this is important for all business people, it is critical when you own more than one. You also have to make sure you are spending enough time with each business.

How to Choose the Right Business to Sell

One of the signs that it may be time to sell off one of your entities is that it takes up too much of your time and doesn’t allow you to focus on your other companies. It’s better to let one go than to lose them all because you can’t pay enough attention to them.

A business that has reached its peak may be ready for new ownership.

You want to sell before it is on a decline, while it still has a strong value.

If you have a partner, you will have to reach the decision together. This can be challenging if each of you have a particular favorite. However, having a partner can also be beneficial because it is someone you may be able to convince to buy your share.

Many serial entrepreneurships involve partners, such as The Light Group with Andrew Sasson founder and Brian Massie, that owns multiple restaurants in Las Vegas.

When one partner wants to sell, he may have an automatic buyer in his partner.

Selling Your Business

You will need to create a sales agreement once you find a buyer.

This will provide the sales price, list of inventory; covenant not to compete, a list of fees, and many other forms.

It is best to work with an experienced attorney when selling your business. You want to make sure you comply with all of the rules and regulations in your location and for your industry.

You will also have to consider the impact to your staff and how you will handle things with them.

In some cases, you may be able to get an agreement from the new buyer about keeping all or part of the staff on after the sale. But this may not be binding unless it is part of the actual agreement.

Also remember that you will need to decide when to tell your staff and how to transfer tasks. This can be more difficult if you have employees who work in more than one of your companies. There may be some anger or jealousy between employees.

It is essential to think through your decision to sell one of your businesses and to understand each step of the process.

While the hardest part may be in choosing which company to sell, it is only the first step of many.

Photo credit: frontrangebusiness.com

About the Author: Joyce Morse is an author who writes on a variety of topics, including SEO and small business.

How can you use Leverage for Your Business?

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Got leverage?Leverage is a powerful tool. We’ve talked about it at length here. If you missed it, check out SOBCon IS Leverage.

Which is a great definition – and a very abstract one. Let’s make it more immediately applicable for you.

How can you use Leverage, the cornerstone of what SOBCon IS, for your business?

Leverage can be used to get feedback from others – While you’re in person at SOBCon, you can share your troubles with the rest of the people at your table. Don’t worry – they won’t judge you. Chances are, they’re going through the same thing you are – or they just got through what you’re going through. A few years back, I sat at a table with 4 other business owners. We all were struggling to get feedback from our customers. Feedback that we desperately needed to move our businesses forward in a new direction. We talked about survey tools, and the best time to send the survey e-mails, and all sorts of other things about surveys.

We found a solution we all agreed to – and then one person at the table said “What if instead of surveying all our customers, we each agree to call someone else’s 5 best customers and find out what they love (and loathe) about working with the other business owner. Then we can all get honest feedback, not have to worry about our customers feeling like we’re fishing for compliments, and we can all help each other.” And so we did. Instead of a boring e-mail survey, that we all had been delaying for weeks (or in some cases years), we helped each other as soon as the event was over. Simple. Easy. And something I never would have thought to do had I not been at that table.

Leverage can be used to amplify your message and your audience – When you make a friend, you make one more person who might share your work. When you join a community, you get a bunch of people who might share your work. Because SOBCon is such an intimate event, if you want to, you can connect with nearly everyone in attendance, and you can find just the right people to amplify your message and share your work, as well as tons of people who you can share their work, and amplify their message. The collaborative part of SOBCon is one of the most wonderful and amazing parts to me.

Leverage can help you create a better product, something better than you could create by yourself – Everyone has unique talents and skills, and everyone looks at things a little differently than you do. Or maybe it’s just me. I find that

Leverage can be used to test an idea out before you release it to the world – What better test than to work with your peers – and with people who have no idea what you do – all in one? Leverage offers a great way to run an idea past a bunch of people in a short period of time and create your own pre-launch team to gather feedback and make your product or service even better. You might even get a customer or two out of it, like SOBCon alum Jesse Petersen has done with his WordPress design business.

Need more Leverage?

Join us at SOBCon in Chicago, June of 2014. We’ve got Leverage. We are SOBCon.

And if you come, you’ll be Leverage too. You’ll be able to tap into the great minds that have previously gotten Leverage from SOBCon, that are looking to Leverage SOBCon 2014.

SOBCon is Leverage. Leverage is SOBCon.

The only question that remains is are YOU Leverage? Are YOU going to be at SOBCon? Leave a comment and let me know. I can’t WAIT to meet you!

Image courtesy of wikipedia commons