I am hosting a NetWalk on the afternoon of Friday 7th.
It's an opportunity to meet and network in a relaxed format.
Hope you can make it.
Details on Facebook
Friday, 31 July 2009
Thursday, 30 July 2009
“How to Rod Sloane your Marketing!”
Hey my mojo's pretty high today, how's yours?
Now even me, in all modesty, I probably wouldn't run ad ad or workshop entitled “How to Rod Sloane your Marketing!” I'm too modest..but you could promote it for me, OK?
However I have a presentation entitled “How to Barack Obama your Business!” that people get excited about. What does it mean? Innovation, Story-telling, Change? So...
Why not turn a real name into a verb. After all people don't carry out a search enquiry on Google.com they just Google it.
If I put your name in the place of “How to Barack Obama your Business!” e.g. “How to John Smith your Business!” what would it mean?
Do you know?
Tip: Ask people around you...
Find out what your name means as a verb and you have some real currency with your marketing “How to Rod Sloane your Name!”
Now even me, in all modesty, I probably wouldn't run ad ad or workshop entitled “How to Rod Sloane your Marketing!” I'm too modest..but you could promote it for me, OK?
However I have a presentation entitled “How to Barack Obama your Business!” that people get excited about. What does it mean? Innovation, Story-telling, Change? So...
Why not turn a real name into a verb. After all people don't carry out a search enquiry on Google.com they just Google it.
If I put your name in the place of “How to Barack Obama your Business!” e.g. “How to John Smith your Business!” what would it mean?
Do you know?
Tip: Ask people around you...
Find out what your name means as a verb and you have some real currency with your marketing “How to Rod Sloane your Name!”
Wednesday, 29 July 2009
Put your message on a t-shirt
Vic Osteen suggests that you develop a catch phrase for your business.
Brevity is key here, you should be aiming for around a six word phrase.
A phrase that not only describes what you do, but how you do it.
Both content and style.
You know "Don't leave home without it" "The World's Favourite Airline"
Now would you say your catch phrase, more importantly would others?
Now, the acid test, put your catch phrase on a t-shirt.
Would you wear it?
Would others?
Would someone spend £10 on it
That's what mine sell for!!
Great for summer, autumn and ...
Brevity is key here, you should be aiming for around a six word phrase.
A phrase that not only describes what you do, but how you do it.
Both content and style.
You know "Don't leave home without it" "The World's Favourite Airline"
Now would you say your catch phrase, more importantly would others?
Now, the acid test, put your catch phrase on a t-shirt.
Would you wear it?
Would others?
Would someone spend £10 on it
That's what mine sell for!!
Great for summer, autumn and ...
Tuesday, 28 July 2009
Start Ya Bastard!
How much time do you spend marketing?
You know if I could just get the work in through the door then I wouldn't have to any of that marketing, admin or planning stuff. Maybe I could just automate or outsource all that stuff. I just want to do the work!
Ring true?
Doh! That is dumb thinking in my view and probably means you ain't charging enough, buster!
Yes you aren't charging enough!
Now I don't believe in the the so called 4 hour working week, but I do believe in the 24 hour work week. You should be able to do all the work you need to do, make all the money you need to make in three days a week. Chris Barrow who works with dentists suggests you work three days a week for 40 weeks a year. That is 120 fee producing days.
The rest of the time is free, planning or marketing. Make sense?
Here is my tip for 2009.
Double the amount of time you currently spend on marketing.
Not sure what to do with extra time then call me and I will tell what to do.
Go on all me now 07957 422203 and I'll tell you.
As the Australians would say “Start Ya Bastard!”
Call me!
You know if I could just get the work in through the door then I wouldn't have to any of that marketing, admin or planning stuff. Maybe I could just automate or outsource all that stuff. I just want to do the work!
Ring true?
Doh! That is dumb thinking in my view and probably means you ain't charging enough, buster!
Yes you aren't charging enough!
Now I don't believe in the the so called 4 hour working week, but I do believe in the 24 hour work week. You should be able to do all the work you need to do, make all the money you need to make in three days a week. Chris Barrow who works with dentists suggests you work three days a week for 40 weeks a year. That is 120 fee producing days.
The rest of the time is free, planning or marketing. Make sense?
Here is my tip for 2009.
Double the amount of time you currently spend on marketing.
Not sure what to do with extra time then call me and I will tell what to do.
Go on all me now 07957 422203 and I'll tell you.
As the Australians would say “Start Ya Bastard!”
Call me!
Monday, 27 July 2009
How to Get Sales And Marketing Working Together
The biggest concern for any business is to make a profit.
This goes for any type and size of business. If the business is not in it to make profits, what good is it for them to be in business?
How can a business become profitable? It boils down to two important elements. In order for a company to make money, they have to sell their products.
This is where the sales team gets into gear. They provide the product to the customer and close the sale.
But how can they do this if no person sees the product. This is where the marketing department comes in.
As you can see, both the sales and marketing departments must exist and work together if the company is to make money.
There is one problem however. Many companies are going under because there is no unity or alignment, if you will.
This causes problems for the company. The sales department starts blaming the marketing department for not giving them
solid and reliable leads. While at the same time the marketing department blames the sales department for going after
the wrong buyer, or uses the wrong sales tactics to do the selling.
On the other hand, businesses that report huge successes and profits, have their sales and marketing aligned perfectly,
or have made improvements in the way they earn and keep customers.
Based on a survey that was done in January 2005, out of 1400 businesses that responded, 32% of them have their sales
and marketing aligned. In fact, they consider the alignment of the sales and marketing team to top priority for them
and for any business.
If you look at trends and compare companies, you will notice something of interest.
The companies that are doing well know who and where to market their products to. They present their company in the best light possible.
The sales department or sales team takes what the marketing team develops, and uses the leads they are given wisely.
They focus on what the benefits of their product are, understand what the customer is looking for, and deliver it each and every time.
Many fortune 500 companies are like this. They focus on keeping their marketing and sales aligned.
They know how vital it is to the company's bottom line. The more the sales and marketing team are in alignment,
the better chance they have to sell their products.
Based on statistics, those who have their entire business flowing smoothly find their business growth is about
5% faster each year compared to their competitors, who do not have their businesses aligned.
And of these businesses, they find that they close 38% more sales than those who do not have their sales
and marketing people working in harmony together.
This is an astonishing number. If you look at the above numbers closely, it really tells a true story about the
state of companies who keep their sales and marketing aligned as compared to those who don't.
What do you think is the difference between companies who do great and those who don't?
The biggest factor is the way the sales and marketing team work.
If the sales and marketing team work together, a lot can get done, which can work in harmony with the company.
Each person can work together with another with the goal of accomplishing one task, and that is to gain sales and make profits.
But if the sales and marketing team work against each other, you have what is referred to as an internal problem,
which if not corrected quickly, can escalate to the point the company can go bankrupt and close its doors for good.
This is why a great strategy for aligning the sales and marketing team has to be in place, for the company to succeed.
As you read through this book, you will better understand this process of alignment as you are presented with facts
and examples from both sides - those companies in alignment, and those companies not in alignment.
By looking at both sides, you will better understand why companies, who have their sales and marketing in alignment,
succeed, while those who are not in alignment end up failing. The information will also help you see how important
unification within the company is so important for the natural progression of the company.
This is an excerpt from my next book "Alignment: How to Get Sales and Marketing Working Together"
Copyright © 2009 Rod Sloane
This goes for any type and size of business. If the business is not in it to make profits, what good is it for them to be in business?
How can a business become profitable? It boils down to two important elements. In order for a company to make money, they have to sell their products.
This is where the sales team gets into gear. They provide the product to the customer and close the sale.
But how can they do this if no person sees the product. This is where the marketing department comes in.
As you can see, both the sales and marketing departments must exist and work together if the company is to make money.
There is one problem however. Many companies are going under because there is no unity or alignment, if you will.
This causes problems for the company. The sales department starts blaming the marketing department for not giving them
solid and reliable leads. While at the same time the marketing department blames the sales department for going after
the wrong buyer, or uses the wrong sales tactics to do the selling.
On the other hand, businesses that report huge successes and profits, have their sales and marketing aligned perfectly,
or have made improvements in the way they earn and keep customers.
Based on a survey that was done in January 2005, out of 1400 businesses that responded, 32% of them have their sales
and marketing aligned. In fact, they consider the alignment of the sales and marketing team to top priority for them
and for any business.
If you look at trends and compare companies, you will notice something of interest.
The companies that are doing well know who and where to market their products to. They present their company in the best light possible.
The sales department or sales team takes what the marketing team develops, and uses the leads they are given wisely.
They focus on what the benefits of their product are, understand what the customer is looking for, and deliver it each and every time.
Many fortune 500 companies are like this. They focus on keeping their marketing and sales aligned.
They know how vital it is to the company's bottom line. The more the sales and marketing team are in alignment,
the better chance they have to sell their products.
Based on statistics, those who have their entire business flowing smoothly find their business growth is about
5% faster each year compared to their competitors, who do not have their businesses aligned.
And of these businesses, they find that they close 38% more sales than those who do not have their sales
and marketing people working in harmony together.
This is an astonishing number. If you look at the above numbers closely, it really tells a true story about the
state of companies who keep their sales and marketing aligned as compared to those who don't.
What do you think is the difference between companies who do great and those who don't?
The biggest factor is the way the sales and marketing team work.
If the sales and marketing team work together, a lot can get done, which can work in harmony with the company.
Each person can work together with another with the goal of accomplishing one task, and that is to gain sales and make profits.
But if the sales and marketing team work against each other, you have what is referred to as an internal problem,
which if not corrected quickly, can escalate to the point the company can go bankrupt and close its doors for good.
This is why a great strategy for aligning the sales and marketing team has to be in place, for the company to succeed.
As you read through this book, you will better understand this process of alignment as you are presented with facts
and examples from both sides - those companies in alignment, and those companies not in alignment.
By looking at both sides, you will better understand why companies, who have their sales and marketing in alignment,
succeed, while those who are not in alignment end up failing. The information will also help you see how important
unification within the company is so important for the natural progression of the company.
This is an excerpt from my next book "Alignment: How to Get Sales and Marketing Working Together"
Copyright © 2009 Rod Sloane
Friday, 24 July 2009
Please, Show Me How me to use Your stuff on Video!
Video is excellent for marketing because
1.It makes your product or service come alive. It;s the closest I can get to touching and playing without having the physical product.
2.It can work as a simple tutorial after I have bought yr product. Great for non-techies like me. How do I get your thing to work and do...
3.It's fun . People watch TV for fun, they equate video with fun and entertainment.
Here is an example of "How to" use a product I have bought the Zoom H2 digital recorder. 90 second video, enough!
N.B.I have no relationship with Zoom apart from being a customer.
Now it might seem a little cheesy but it does the job. Message to Zoom...Where is your YouTube Channel?
1.It makes your product or service come alive. It;s the closest I can get to touching and playing without having the physical product.
2.It can work as a simple tutorial after I have bought yr product. Great for non-techies like me. How do I get your thing to work and do...
3.It's fun . People watch TV for fun, they equate video with fun and entertainment.
Here is an example of "How to" use a product I have bought the Zoom H2 digital recorder. 90 second video, enough!
N.B.I have no relationship with Zoom apart from being a customer.
Now it might seem a little cheesy but it does the job. Message to Zoom...Where is your YouTube Channel?
Thursday, 23 July 2009
Branding is really just Storytelling
I'm not a huge fan of the branding culture.
And don't get me started on all that personal branding nonsense.
In my view there is a lot of hot air spoken by a lot of supposed experts.
However where I do agree with branding types is that there must be an idea at the centre of your business. An idea that is customer centric and then you must convey that idea to the market in the form of a story that your market gets.
So all branding is storytelling.
Is it that simple?
Remember simple is often not very easy!
And don't get me started on all that personal branding nonsense.
In my view there is a lot of hot air spoken by a lot of supposed experts.
However where I do agree with branding types is that there must be an idea at the centre of your business. An idea that is customer centric and then you must convey that idea to the market in the form of a story that your market gets.
So all branding is storytelling.
Is it that simple?
Remember simple is often not very easy!
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