Business Attitude

February 22, 2016

What MakesTwitter Such a Great Tool - Making Us All BetterCommunicators - Marketing 101T

Twitter at 140

Tweet World - Twitter teaches us to be more concise in our statements as we only have 140 characters to make our pitch.
Real World - This is not a new thought - 35 years ago I used to practice elevator speeches - yes speeches. We had to know when we could repeat our favorite, when we had to use a new / different one, and how to keep it short enough that we could always include a link ( Hand shake, say your name (introduce yourself ) and hand them a card) - Ahhh, let's call that a oldern days tweet.

Repeating Tweet

Tweet World - When you find a good tweet, repeat it, maybe as much as every couple days. Every time you tweet, your audience is only about 3% of your followers (my estimate). That being the case, you can repeat your tweet 33 times without repeating it to the same audience.

Real World - Sometimes, people need to hear your pitch multiple times for it to sink in. This is no different than using the same sales pitch to different people at trade shows, sales calls and even over the phone - It's called following the script.

Understanding the Impact of Individual Tweets

Today, we can measure the impact of our tweets instantly allowing us to test more frequently, more broadly and more accurately with less subjective inclusion. This same need has always existed, but the online and social tools did not as they do today.

The key 'take-away' here is that the same data, information and techniques have always been needed, we just use different (and better) tools today. Old marketers / sellers need to adopt; new marketers / sellers need to learn why - "Knowing why we do something is what allows us to adapt" ~rel.

Bob Leonard
561-371-4113 (Call My Cell)
512-593-8830 (in Austin)

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February 17, 2016

“Live Free or Die” – it’s for more than NHites now – it’s about all of us – Talk to us…

Written for Published in Print Exclusively In the Windham Eagle, Windham, Maine - February 19, 2016

On Wednesday of this week, Apple CEO took an intended stand on privacy. They built the iPhone (current versions I believe) with no back door. Tim Cook’s product design foresight to protect privacy is going to change the way we think and how we interact with our government and how our government interacts with us – Rather than give you our opinion, what is your opinion?

Designing the iPhone with no back door prevents anyone from getting your data – Ever. It self-erases if you guess the password too many times.

Good thing or bad thing?

Express Your Opinion on our Facebook page

www.facebook.com/TheWindhamEagle

On a second note - We all hear the talking going on in the Republican Party. When I went through my media training (about 15 years ago) I was told to “… Have a thick skin…” and “as long as they are talking about you, you are winning”. Do you agree? What do you think of what’s going on? Remember, ”All Politics is Local”. Even here in the Lakes Region of Maine. I don’t make up these clichés.

Express Your Opinion on our Facebook page

www.face boo k.com/TheWindhamEagle

Bob Leonard
561-371-4113 (Call My Cell)

February 16, 2016

Why There Will Always Be Salespeople - Listening, Translating and Educating

First, let me open and say that marketing is an imperfect science - imperfect in that marketing never gets it right. New ingredients are added to the marketing mix all the time - the objective of marketing is to educate the buyer so to make the sale simpler - but it's a moving target - it's in the salesman's skill set to adjust the aim.

Salesperson

Without the salesperson, who would tell the prospect how their product fits the prospect's need (I think I took this, at least in context from something Steve Jobs once said).

It's the salesperson that educates / translates / explains to the prospect that their product is exactly what they are looking for. In the printing business we see it almost every day; I will introduce myself as part of a local printing company and that we can print "anything"; the person I just introduced myself to will then ask someone else "do you know anyone who does brochures" ???? The prospect did not need "anything" printed, they needed brochures ???? See the problem?

When I was in the systems business (systems integrator) I would never try to explain what we did as it was to complex. I would ask the prospects why they were attending this conference / trade show.(if they were) The prospects would describe in detail what he needed - abracadabra - my response- "That is exactly what we do..!!! What the prospect needed - from the prospects eyes.

I guess we could call this a lesson in listening - Don't bore the prospect with what you do; repeat back to them what they want - You must listen first and then tell the story.

A Wrapped Filing Cabinet

So what brings this whole thing up? I was talking to a prospect who was describing how he wanted his file cabinets custom painted to reflect what their business did (I'm listening). I suggested he wrap them (kinda like we do vehicles - you see the similarity, vehicles and file cabinets :/ ). Better, more damage/scratch resistant, easy to clean and much less expensive. Best of all, I had one in the office to show him. Who da thunk... He would have never knocked on my door for this.

Bob Leonard
561-371-4113 (Call My Cell)
512-593-8830 (in Austin)

February 5, 2016

The Speed of News in Today's World of Trending Information - Civic Journalism Defined

I am amazed more everyday by the speed of news - I keep a Twitter window open on my browser to glance at every now and then - TriBeCa was trending this morning (quickly moving up) - a crane had just (minutes ago) collapsed in NYC - scary . . . I am just amazed at how different the news distribution business has changed in the last 10 years. Not that you should watch it, nor that it should be important to you - but it is to many people there.

Citizen and civic journalism has been defined - not by its quality, but its speed.

Bob Leonard
561-371-4113 (Call My Cell)
512-593-8830 (in Austin)

January 23, 2016

Governor LePage --- Make Maine Cool - - A Windham Eagle Op-Ed

Written for Published in Print Exclusively In the Windham Eagle, Windham Maine - January 22, 2016

Governor LePage was in Windham Tuesday night speaking and almost sounding like he was giving a State of the State address.

Of course I don't agree with everything he says, but then again, it would be a boring world if I did.

We heard a lot of statistics from Governor LePage; statistics that were probably very accurate, but presented in such a way to embellish the benefit or the problem. Don’t get me wrong, I embellish, you embellish, and we all embellish to defend our beliefs. What Governor LePage is, is honest - to a fault - "Tell me what you really think Governor", said by NO ONE. We will have to work on some of those issues where we disagree.

I like Governor LePage because I know He reads his mail - he proved that to me last night.

But let’s expand on what I think will solve all our problems (after all, this is an editorial). Problems that both political parties spout and I am pretty sure both parties will agree. Keep the best and the brightest here in Maine. Do this by "Making Maine Cool".

Someone needs to market to big business and bring them to Maine – That’s a great thing for small business as big business creates a lot of supporting small business. Prime the pump - seed the farm – market Maine – Get to the executives before they make their decisions - That is YOUR JOB Mr. Governor. That means marketing and selling, yes selling, to them all the time. It is in my belief that every CEO in this country will take your call and meet with you - I can’t imagine anyone not taking your call – not taking your meeting.

Our brightest are not flocking to Texas because of the better paying jobs - Just the opposite, jobs are lower paying – It is not about pay - there are just a lot of jobs. California, most notably is losing jobs to Austin - where the slogan is "Keep Austin Weird." Austin is an exciting vibrant city – It’s cool.

I heard someone say Tuesday night that “… greater Portland area Democrats are doing everything they can to turn Maine into San Francisco East …" - wouldn't it be a great thing if people, when referring to the High-Tech Bay Area were talking about CASCO BAY?

Governor LePage, listen to us - Let's Make Maine Cool

Do you want to bring business to Maine? - Make Maine Cool.

Do you want to create jobs in Maine? - Make Maine Cool.

Do you want to lower taxes in Maine? - Make Maine Cool.

Do you want to reduce crime in Maine? - Make Maine Cool.

Do you want to keep our smart people in Maine? - Make Maine Cool.

Do you want to keep our young people in Maine? - Make Maine Cool.

Do you want to make Maine Cool? - Make Maine Fun.

When we are done Making Maine Cool, we can change this saying to Keep Maine Cool. Governor LePage, are you listening?

January 13, 2016

My Three Economic Predictions for Business 2016 - 2020 - My Crystal Ball

Published in Print Exclusively In the Windham Eagle, Windham Maine - January 15, 2016

Prediction One - Business to itself will flourish and grow over the next five years going from good to great. The markets, which have been growing slowly over the last few years, will continue to grow except that they will be accelerating. For the last five years we have been in a "replacement" market. This market has become the norm for our society today. We, in general, have not been buying products because we wanted them, but because we needed them - "our old one broke down". In the next five years, business and market growth will accelerate as there is a pent up demand for the "I Wants" rather than "I Needs". This points to good times.

Prediction Two - Financial instrument marketers will become more aggressive with the offering of more aggressive products. Aggressive investment capital was stifled for several years for two reasons, the media told us of impending doom and the investment / tax rules were in flux - we like to invest where we know the rules. Today, there is still huge pent up capital "waiting on the sidelines", but looking, for a place to flow. In the next 5 years it will flow, possibly like it has never flowed in the past and probably not peaking for 20 years - yes, a twenty year boom. This points to good times.

Prediction Three - Business and life are being redefined by our dreams and desires. In the past, it has always been about security and consistency, which came with stress and vulnerability. We will see more people stepping out (even if they are forced out) taking on the world satisfying their own entrepreneurial desires and wants setting their own destinies. This will create jobs, wealth, and be a major part of our future and the economy. This points to good times.

So where are all these opportunities - examples please?

Convenience Services

Landscaping
Food Prep and Delivery
Child Care

Financial Services

More people today are at least concerned about their future

Specialty Manufacturing.

Anything that can be made and shipped inexpensively and/or regonally There are even boutique steel manufactures

Entrepreneurism will not only be the future, but the thing to be.

"A True Entrepreneur does not think they can, they just don't know why they can't" ~rel

Bob Leonard
561-371-4113 (Call My Cell)
512-593-8830 (in Austin)

December 12, 2015

Fantasy Sports (FanDuel and Draft Kings) - Political and Vice Driven? - My Opinion (IMO)

FanDuel and Draft Kings have changed the way people watch sports as the concept of 'team" has been redefined. The business model of fantasy sports, which has come to its own in the last few years, is typical of many. It is obvious it sat under our noses for years, it generates rewards for its participants, it is attached to a human vice and it generates profits for it's business owners.

Government is now attacking the business model for many perceived noble reasons - IMO, the real reason for the uproar is that they (term used very generically) did not think of it first. Let's review some some issues where I will express my opinions.

IMO, the federal government has no business making decisions about fantasy sports - the Republican presidential debates pointed out the hypocrisy (I can't speak much to hypocrisy as I am on too many issues). These "gambling" issues should be handled at the state or even at t0he city level. Technology allows this to happen pretty easily these days. Politicians are talking because its in vogue to talk about (the press is listening) and as a whole are jealous that they did not think of it first (IMO).

It makes sense for Nevada to make it illegal because the state's industry is gambling. I trust that the Nevada legislature and the people of Nevada made that decision for themselves.

Where it does not make sense, again IMO, is a place like New York where the distribution of vice is sold on an exclusive basis by state and local governments allowing 'vicey' forms of gambling to happen (OK, maybe New York is not alone in this). Schenectady is an example of this - I am amazed by how many people talk about the recent 'industrial town casino' decision all over the country - "stupid" seems to be the common phrase in the discussion and it's a bipartisan discussion. I don't fault the democrats of Schenectady - whoever was in office would have taken credit. This decision has already cost local jobs (GE's Alstom Power acquisition - you gotta read between the lines a bit so I will call this 'my opinion'). Oops, this is a different discussion - sorry.

Oh yea, Fan Duel is illegal to play within New York State borders.

In my opinion, the fantasy sports companies should self regulate. This could be done easily by "limiting the gamble" - no games over $10 and limit the total wagering to $50 a week - there are only two big players in the business. This would not be a big issue to the fantasy sports companies as their money is made at the $10 and under games. It would also take away to the perceived competition to state controlled gambling. Regretfully I don't influence the morals, or dictate policy or law, to either of these companies.

Am I a Democrat or Republican? Your opinion will probably be based on whether you agree with me (I am in your political party) or disagree with me (I am one of them). In either case, I have 4 games going tomorrow and am fully in $5.

Bob Leonard
561-371-4113 (Call My Cell)
512-593-8830 (in Austin)