Successful Blog

Trust is being who you are

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There we were at my dining room table, discussing the future of GeniusShared — it was a conversation that was one part ideation and another part candid truth. While I absolutely excelled at the ideation part of the conversation, I failed miserably at the candid truth part.

Liz said “You don’t trust me!”

To which I replied “Yes I do — I just don’t trust myself.”

Liz said “You don’t trust me enough to hear yourself argue with me.”

Liz saw me hiding my truth and she called me on it. Kindly. Gently. And firmly. After all, trust is the hard truth spoken gently.

I just wasn’t getting it — so I asked Liz “What is trust?”

She took a deep breath and summoned her patience to say – “Trust is when I don’t need to think about who I am with you. And you don’t need to think about who you are with me.”

You see — it was the part of the conversation that required me to trust beyond Liz. Yet for a million reasons, that today no longer seem to matter, I chose to hide. The reality was that I needed to trust myself too. To trust that my ideas were good enough, that I was smart enough and to believe that my voice was an integral ingredient when it came to the partnership we were building. And because I did that —  my voice couldn’t emerge.

It sounds so easy — but it wasn’t. At least not for me. The simple reality is that it took me months to see it. And to understand the power that comes from trusting myself enough to share my own truth.

Today, we have lots of different conversations related to GeniusShared, life, friends and the world. There’s never a shortage of areas for us to cover — and we have some of the most amazing discussions. Guess what? I no longer hide my thoughts during our conversations. I share them — without thinking about who I am. I just share myself. I do this because I know the difference it makes. And I’ve found my own way of saying what trust is — You need to be who you are and know that I’m not going to walk away because of it.

Jane Boyd is a Partner in GeniusShared. She is also the CEO of 45 Conversations Media & Education Ltd, a Canadian education and training company based just outside of Vancouver Canada. She works with educators, business, community and government in the areas of early learning, work-life, community development and employee engagement.

Beach Notes: Symmetry in Motion

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By Suzie Cheel & Des Walsh

Kites were flying at Kirra Beach at a Kite Festival, only the challenge was there was no wind, the larger kites were beached, but these 3 kites , so light that they were able to fly.

kites flying

Authors’ Bios: Suzie Cheel is the Heart Whisperer at Suzie Cheel You can find Suzie on Facebook and on Twitter as @suziecheel

Des Walsh is a Digital Disruption Navigator at Des Walsh Dot Com You can find Des at LinkedIn and on Twitter as @deswalsh

Having the Right Business Mentor Can Make All the Difference

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cross-armed leader looking at camera in working environmentDo you have a business mentor?

When you’re starting out, the chances are you’ve thought of everything from your marketing to your cash flow to finding the right premises. But have you thought about finding a mentor for your business?

A mentor is a big boost for business owners at all stages, but especially those just starting out.

So what can a mentor do for you?

Business Knowledge

When you work with a mentor, you’re working with someone who knows their way around the business world.

Their business knowledge is invaluable for your business. Whether you’re trying to find your way through the maze of taxes, or trying to figure out how to get started with employing people in your business, a mentor can help you.

Even if they don’t have experience in your specific field, they’ll know what it’s like to meet the day to day challenges of running a business, and will pass that knowledge on to you.

Wisdom from Experience

As the article, “Why You Need a Mentor and Where to Find One” says, real life know-how comes with experience. No matter how well educated or trained you are, nothing beats the wisdom you gain from experience.

There’s no short cut for experience and the knowledge it brings. However a mentor is as good as a short cut. A mentor can tell you the things they’ve learned over their time in business.

You’ll be able to learn from their mistakes and triumphs, avoiding the pitfalls that caught them out, and benefiting from the things that worked for them. You can take that knowledge and mold it to fit your own business.

Moral Support

Being in business can be tough, especially when you’re starting out.

From cash flow problems to struggling to get the right customers, there will be days when you wonder if you’re doing the right thing.

A mentor can help you through the rough spots.

They can offer a listening ear and empathy, from someone who has been there and knows exactly what you’re going through.

Your mentor can also give you hope that there is a way through the hard times, and prove to you that with dedication and determination, you can make it.

Fresh Ideas

Sometimes you just need a fresh perspective.

No matter how new or how experienced you are in business, sometimes you’ll hit a problem you just can’t see the way past. That’s where a mentor can help.

Regardless of whether they’re experienced in your specific industry, a mentor brings a fresh perspective to any situation. They’ll spot solutions and new approaches that you might not have noticed, because you don’t have an outside view.

It’s not just about solving specific problems, either.

Sometimes your mentor will spot an even better way of approaching something that seems to be working ok, making your business even better.

Motivation and Accountability

Motivation is key to success in business. You’ll need to keep going through the good times and bad, and keep your goals in mind.

A mentor can help you do just that. By helping you set goals and providing an example of success in business, a mentor will motivate you to keep going.

Working with a mentor also encourages accountability, as you talk to them about previous issues and what you’ve been doing to deal with them.

A good mentor is worth their weight in gold for your business.

You’ll benefit from their experience and wisdom, empowering you to make the best decisions for your business from the outset.

Photo credit: BigStockPhoto.com

About the Author: Tristan Anwyn writes on a variety of topics including social media, how to build customer relationships, content marketing and how to work with a business mentor.

Buzzworthy customer service begins with eye contact

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The other evening I caught myself with four (FOUR) active screens arrayed in front of me.

I was “watching” TV.

I had my iPad on the nightstand because I had started to play a game.

Thought of a work item I needed to finish, and popped open my laptop.

Of course my phone was next to me on the bed in case I got a text (alerting me to nuclear war or possibly a school delay).

And then…one of my children came in to tell me something.

First instinct was…”I’m busy!”

…waitforitwaitforit….

Seeing the look of befuddlement cross my child’s face, I snapped out of my mania and started shutting down screens.

In every moment, you tell the world what’s important based on what’s in your immediate field of vision.

Have you ever been buying something in a shop when the phone rings? And the clerk makes you wait while he answers the customer on the phone?

Why are we putting the living, breathing humans around us at arms length in order to stare into a screen?

Why do we feel comfortable sending a LinkedIn request to a stranger, but too shy to approach people at a business networking event?

It’s time to get back to eyeballing each other.

Some ideas for practicing eye contact:

  • Take one of your customers out to lunch or coffee. Ask them how they are. (Not how satisfied they are with your customer service.) Then truly listen to their answer.
  • Add a conference or two to your calendar. Get outside your office and meet people.
  • If a living, breathing person is talking to you, close your laptop and stash your phone. Listen actively.
  • Start scheduling video calls instead of emails or phone calls. Body language is a crucial signal.
  • Use your real name and photo in your customer support communications.
  • Turn off notifications when you’re interacting with people (e.g., at lunch, in a meeting, listening to a pitch, serving a customer).
  • Let people know that you noticed them, by offering a specific (and authentic) compliment, referring back to something they said earlier, or remembering details about them the next time you meet.

How many screens do you have open right now?

Author’s Bio: Rosemary O’Neill is an insightful spirit who works for Social Strata — makers of the Hoop.la community platform. Check out the Social Strata blog. You can find Rosemary on Google+ and on Twitter as @rhogroupee

 

Featured image via Flickr CC: Kevin Dooley

Are Your SEO Needs Being Met?

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handshake isolated on business backgroundIf running a business has you coming and going, what are you doing to make things a little easier on yourself?

For many business owners, the focus is oftentimes lost on how important content marketing is to their success. While there is no doubt hiring the right talent and providing stellar customer service are both critical, so too is properly promoting your brand.

One of the best ways to get your brand front and center in front of countless eyes is by having a content marketing program that properly promotes your brand, leaving no doubt amongst consumers why they should be doing business with you.

With that said, do you do the content marketing or should you farm it out to the pros?

Research Your Options

For those business owners who decided that handling content marketing may be a little beyond their grasp, there is always the option of turning to an outside agency. That agency should not only be able to write eye-catching copy, but they also need to place it in front of as many eyes as possible.

Through search engine optimization (SEO), business owners can get their brand front and center.

But what about finding the right SEO provider to do just that? Can you really afford to just call-out any SEO company to do the work for you? Or do you need to invest time and effort in finding the best SEO agency?

The answer should be obvious, though some business owners oftentimes will simply hope for the best when hiring.

In order for your brand to get the best attention, remember to follow these tidbits in searching for the best SEO provider:

  • Track record – What kind of history does each SEO provider you are reviewing have? Are they all but free of customer complaints? Are they quick to respond to client inquiries or do they leave people on hold? What kind of social network (Twitter, Facebook etc.) do they have? If they have little or no social following, how can they be expected to use social media to help publicize your brand?
  • Read the fine print – Anytime you have someone do work for you; make sure you read the written deal (typically a contract) from start to finish. Those nasty little “hidden fees” can crop up from time to time, leaving you a little lighter in the wallet or purse and a little bit dissatisfied. Some business owners are too busy to read the fine details, meaning they ultimately pay for it in the end.
  • Too many promises? – Another red flag is if an SEO provider promises you the moon. Remember, just as you only promise your customers what you can ultimately deliver, the same should hold true for those doing work for you. Make sure the expectations are clearly defined for both parties. Solid SEO doesn’t happen overnight or at the flick of a switch, so set a clear understanding between your company and your SEO provider of what is needed and expected.
  • Reviews are needed – Finally, it is important that you and your SEO provider sit down and talk about the progress of your site, especially as it relates to link-building, content marketing and social media. What is working? Are there some strategies that seem to be stuck in neutral or even maybe setting your site back as it pertains to Google rankings? Don’t be afraid to voice your opinion; it is your site and money, so speak up when necessary.

In the end, your goal and that of your SEO provider should be to increase your websites traffic and your company’s sales.

When those two come together, your SEO needs can certainly be met.

Photo credit: BigStockPhoto.com

About the Author: Dave Thomas covers a variety of business topics on the web.

Don’t Underestimate the Power of Guest Posting

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Market Segmentation Background Concept GlowingWhether your business is a major one or a one-person show, the importance of spreading the word about your brand can never be taken for granted.

Think about it; more and more consumers are visiting company’s websites and social media initiatives. If your company is not actively pursuing potential business via the Internet, can you really survive over the long haul?

While some companies can keep the revenue door open because they’ve been around forever and/or rely primarily on walk-in business, a much larger number needs some degree of web presence.

One of the ways you can increase your web profile is by guest posting.

Do You Hire SEO Help Along the Way?

For those companies looking to either start with guest posting or ramp up their current efforts, one thing to consider is whether or not you can do the work in-house or will require outside assistance. If you find the right guest posting services provider, your work may become all the more easier.

At the end of the day, it all boils down to properly promoting your brand, with search engine optimization (SEO) playing a key role in that process.

Let’s use the example of a company blog.

If you have a blog, how often are you updating it? If the answer is frequently (and that means with relevant content, images, data, infographics etc.), that’s a good start. If the response is infrequently, then there is work to be done.

With the right SEO plan in place; your content marketing efforts can outdo the competition and then some.

By strategically placing a keyword link in the content, you are much more likely to drive traffic back to the site listed in the link.

If you’re providing guest posting content related to your brand on other sites, by all means push for having a relevant link back to your site added to the article you author. In doing so, you increase the odds of having more visitors pay you a visit online.

So, what are the keys to writing good guest posts that ultimately will bring more traffic your way?

Among them:

  1. Write with a purpose – For starters, make sure you have a purpose behind your writing efforts. If you’re trying to make a sales pitch instead of providing worthwhile content to readers/potential customers, you stand a good chance of losing their interest. The purpose of your content should be giving the reader something valuable, not something they hear from way too many other business;
  2. Don’t be pushy with sales – When you stop and think about it, consumers get all but hit over the head daily with sales pitches, so don’t pile on. You can be rather discreet with your sales initiatives by noting that current or first-time customers could be receiving deals if they do business with you without shoving a sale down their throats. Share with them the benefits that come with being one of your clients. When you do that, you stand a much higher percentage of landing a sale;
  3. Clean and exciting copy – Last but certainly not least, be sure to have content that is not littered with errors, boring or no images at all, and is easy to share amongst consumers. Make sure your keyword links all work and lead to the relevant page/s you want consumers to go to, not an error message. If a consumer has trouble surfing your site, especially if they want to see content they think would be worthwhile to them, don’t hold your breath waiting for them to return.

When it comes to solid content marketing, are you writing copy that will sell itself?

Photo credit: BigStockPhoto.com

About the Author: Dave Thomas writes on a variety of business topics for different websites.