This blog post is a little different. I'm not talking about social networking, nor am I ranting about anything (I may even change the title of this blog given some of my more recent posts). That's a different post altogether.
This one is about light. More specifically lightbulbs and how they have changed in the past few years. For those of you still in the dark (sorry, I couldn't resist), there are new lightbulbs available for your home which don't require any changes to the fixtures you already have, and while they do cost a little more, they last up to ten times as long. What am I talking about? CFLs of course. Compact Fluorescent Lightbulbs. I could spend the next few pages describing what they are, and how they will save you money, but that would be boring.
Instead, why don't you watch the short video clip below. Lee LeFever has this really cool way of explaining things, and making sense out of sometimes confusing topics. Check it out, and make sure to drop me a line to let me know if you've switched.
Wednesday, October 24, 2007
Monday, October 15, 2007
Don't Do This
I'm a trainer. I work for Verizon, not the wireless company, but the land-line side of the business. In addition to training, I also deal a little bit in marketing; not any specific product, but marketing from the standpoint that as a trainer, I am always trying to sell my concepts to the people I am training. I guess that means that I also am in sales (aren't we all?). Because of this, I read a lot about sales techniques.
One newsletter that I read on a regular basis is this guy. After 23 years of writing his newsletter, he probably knows a little bit about sales. What I really like are the stories he shares in his newsletter. Normally, they start out with something like, "I received this phone call the other day, and the guy starts off by saying....." As I said, I like the story approach, but always thought they were a little too perfect to be real. Not that it changes the point of the story, but I used to think there is no way that someone would do that. That is until I received this e-mail (I've removed the names of the business to protect them):
What's interesting here is that I have never heard from this person before so the name in my inbox was unknown to me, but I opened it anyway. The person obviously knew that I had contacted ***** company in the past, but in no way did they take the time to find out why I contacted the company; they just assumed that I requested information. I did not. Also, the sales rep must be located in an area where Verizon is not the local telephone company. How do I know this? Because they referred to my 'team at Verizon Wireless". Everyone across the country has heard of Verizon Wireless, but in my travels, I have come to find out that people don't know of Verizon as a Plain Old Telephone company because their local phone company is not Verizon. Normally this would not be a big deal, everyone makes mistakes, but this person made some assumptions in this situation, and didn't take the time to know me as a potential customer.
My guess is that this sales rep took over for someone who moved on to a new position, and went through all their old contacts and sent out e-mails hoping that someone would bite on the offer. As a new sales person, don't do this. You run the risk of turning that person away for good, and even worse, they may post your e-mail to their blog for all the world to see.
E-mail is a great contact tool and once you establish contact with someone it's great to use it to stay in touch, but do yourself a favor, when making initial contact with a new prospect pick up the phone and talk to them live. It will make all the difference in the world.
One newsletter that I read on a regular basis is this guy. After 23 years of writing his newsletter, he probably knows a little bit about sales. What I really like are the stories he shares in his newsletter. Normally, they start out with something like, "I received this phone call the other day, and the guy starts off by saying....." As I said, I like the story approach, but always thought they were a little too perfect to be real. Not that it changes the point of the story, but I used to think there is no way that someone would do that. That is until I received this e-mail (I've removed the names of the business to protect them):
Hi, Kevin.
I'm curious to see if you've had a moment to review the *****
video and poster as a possible theme for an upcoming
meeting or to further motivate and inspire your team at Verizon Wireless?
When you have a moment, please let me know if I can help
with ideas to create a ***** culture with your team. Thanks.
Best regards,
(Name Removed)
What's interesting here is that I have never heard from this person before so the name in my inbox was unknown to me, but I opened it anyway. The person obviously knew that I had contacted ***** company in the past, but in no way did they take the time to find out why I contacted the company; they just assumed that I requested information. I did not. Also, the sales rep must be located in an area where Verizon is not the local telephone company. How do I know this? Because they referred to my 'team at Verizon Wireless". Everyone across the country has heard of Verizon Wireless, but in my travels, I have come to find out that people don't know of Verizon as a Plain Old Telephone company because their local phone company is not Verizon. Normally this would not be a big deal, everyone makes mistakes, but this person made some assumptions in this situation, and didn't take the time to know me as a potential customer.
My guess is that this sales rep took over for someone who moved on to a new position, and went through all their old contacts and sent out e-mails hoping that someone would bite on the offer. As a new sales person, don't do this. You run the risk of turning that person away for good, and even worse, they may post your e-mail to their blog for all the world to see.
E-mail is a great contact tool and once you establish contact with someone it's great to use it to stay in touch, but do yourself a favor, when making initial contact with a new prospect pick up the phone and talk to them live. It will make all the difference in the world.
Don't settle for the middle of the road
Seth Godin has once again hit the nail right on the head. No one needs to be told that the recording industry is in a tailspin. Sales of CDs are down, profits are down, and very few in the industry have grasped the concept of moving towards digital delivery of their product. In about 300 words, Seth tells us that not all is lost; there are a few brave souls out there who are not only still making great music, but are embracing the future of music distribution. These forward-thinkers are going to pull the recording industry along for the ride (kicking and screaming if necessary), and that is the point of the story. Every industry when faced with change has a few people who are willing to take big risks to make a difference. Those who are not willing to be leaders are destined to be the middle of the road, or worse yet, left behind altogether.
There is always an opportunity to be the forward-thinker, no matter what you do. Do you think that Steven Levitt was the first economist to look at subjects such as drug dealers or swimming pools vs. guns? Probably not, but he was the guy who took the risk, and published the book about them.
Don't settle for middle of the road, be the forward thinker!
There is always an opportunity to be the forward-thinker, no matter what you do. Do you think that Steven Levitt was the first economist to look at subjects such as drug dealers or swimming pools vs. guns? Probably not, but he was the guy who took the risk, and published the book about them.
Don't settle for middle of the road, be the forward thinker!
Tuesday, September 18, 2007
Seth Godin isn't perfect
Seth Godin gets it. He knows marketing, and has a hugely successful career because he knows it so well. He's a really smart guy, but every once in a while he misses the mark. Although I am not a linguistic major, and only speak one language (and even that is a struggle sometimes :) ), I think the Genki English blog nailed it with their rebuttal to Seth's post.
Language is an amazing thing, and taking the time to learn one (or more) other than your native tongue can be a struggle, but certainly one worth doing.
I for one can't wait until I can have a fluent conversation in something other than English.
Language is an amazing thing, and taking the time to learn one (or more) other than your native tongue can be a struggle, but certainly one worth doing.
I for one can't wait until I can have a fluent conversation in something other than English.
Thursday, September 13, 2007
I'm not setting the world on fire with my connections on LinkedIn, but it's growing, and I'm liking what I'm seeing. The connections are so varied that I'm beginning to think the possibilities are endless for how I can begin to market myself. The industries range from telecommunications (obviously) to board members of National Attention Deficit Disorder Association.
Check it out, and let me know what you think. If you haven't signed up yet, click the link above, and connect to me!
Check it out, and let me know what you think. If you haven't signed up yet, click the link above, and connect to me!
Friday, September 07, 2007
Social Networking - Professional Style
We all know about MySpace and Face Book, as well as other social networking sites, but what about for business professionals? In a world where you want to know as many people as possible for professional advancement, you need something a bit more refined than Dane Cook talking about Kool-Aid. Not that I have anything against Dane Cook, but it's not exactly what I want a potential future employer to see in 'my space'.
This is where LinkedIn comes in. For those of you who are not familiar with LinkedIn, their mission
According to their website they have over 13 million experienced professionals from around the world, representing 150 different industries. Linked in is free to join, although they do offer paid accounts with more features.
The site features the ability for you to connect to your contacts directly through your webmail account (GMail, AOL, Yahoo, etc.), and once you make your connections, you can ask someone in your network to introduce you to someone in their's. It's a simple concept, and can really open doors for someone looking for new opportunities.
If you're never been to LinkedIn before why don't you check it out now by clicking here, or better yet, click on the LinkedIn button you see at the top of this post, and you can see just what it is that I do (when I'm not writing here of course).
This is where LinkedIn comes in. For those of you who are not familiar with LinkedIn, their mission
"is to help you be more effective in your daily work and open doors to opportunities using the professional relationships you already have."
According to their website they have over 13 million experienced professionals from around the world, representing 150 different industries. Linked in is free to join, although they do offer paid accounts with more features.
The site features the ability for you to connect to your contacts directly through your webmail account (GMail, AOL, Yahoo, etc.), and once you make your connections, you can ask someone in your network to introduce you to someone in their's. It's a simple concept, and can really open doors for someone looking for new opportunities.
If you're never been to LinkedIn before why don't you check it out now by clicking here, or better yet, click on the LinkedIn button you see at the top of this post, and you can see just what it is that I do (when I'm not writing here of course).
Wednesday, September 05, 2007
A few words about my previous post
Maybe I wasn't clear with my last post. When I ended it with 'Any ideas?' I wasn't looking for you to give me a way to make money on the Internet, I really was asking your opinion as to what the NEXT big thing is going to be. Social Networking sites, and more importantly Social Marketing is the current hot trend, but what can be done to improve on that? How do we link all these sites together? Is orkut the answer? Can the Google guys come up with something? Is there some young kid out there working on this right now? Whatever you think it is, you better start working on it today, because trust me, someone else is already working on it. Share your ideas with me. I can't wait to read what you have to say.
By the way, while we're talking about social marketing, make sure you check out the LinkedIn button at the top of this post. Click it to find out more about my LinkedIn connections.
By the way, while we're talking about social marketing, make sure you check out the LinkedIn button at the top of this post. Click it to find out more about my LinkedIn connections.
I'm standing here in the
I'm standing here in the train station after just getting out of class, and I'm wondering how I'm going to make money on the 'net. Any ideas?
N.Y. Times Article - How does this happen?
National
In Remote Canyon, Calif., a Pay Phone Is Celebrated
By CAROL POGASH
Published: September 4, 2007
With cellphone reception rare, residents of Canyon, Calif., consider their pay phone to be as essential as the one-room post office and the three-room schoolhouse.
I think this is a great story. Don't get me wrong, I think AT&T was right in taking out the phone in the first place; let's face it, they're in the business to make money, and if removing a pay phone is cost-effective for their business that's okay with me. I also think that the residents of Canyon were right in fighting to keep it there. It served a purpose, and although it may not have been making money for AT&T, they had a right to keep it; the Telecom Act of 1996 even guaranteed the resident's this service.
So where is the problem with this story? Who is at fault? It's not AT&T, and it's not Canyon, California's residents, it's the state government of California. All I can say is leave it to the California State Government to figure out a way to collect over $1 million dollars in taxes from big-business, and at the same time not have any way to disperse the money to the people for whom it was supposedly collected. How did this tax law get passed? Isn't this something that our law-makers have done before? Why would this not be part of the ENTIRE process?
Maybe it's just me, but I think someone figured out a way for the State of California to collect one million dollars in taxes, make some money off the investment, eventually use the money for other things, and never have to use it for what it was ear-marked for.
In Remote Canyon, Calif., a Pay Phone Is Celebrated
By CAROL POGASH
Published: September 4, 2007
With cellphone reception rare, residents of Canyon, Calif., consider their pay phone to be as essential as the one-room post office and the three-room schoolhouse.
I think this is a great story. Don't get me wrong, I think AT&T was right in taking out the phone in the first place; let's face it, they're in the business to make money, and if removing a pay phone is cost-effective for their business that's okay with me. I also think that the residents of Canyon were right in fighting to keep it there. It served a purpose, and although it may not have been making money for AT&T, they had a right to keep it; the Telecom Act of 1996 even guaranteed the resident's this service.
So where is the problem with this story? Who is at fault? It's not AT&T, and it's not Canyon, California's residents, it's the state government of California. All I can say is leave it to the California State Government to figure out a way to collect over $1 million dollars in taxes from big-business, and at the same time not have any way to disperse the money to the people for whom it was supposedly collected. How did this tax law get passed? Isn't this something that our law-makers have done before? Why would this not be part of the ENTIRE process?
Maybe it's just me, but I think someone figured out a way for the State of California to collect one million dollars in taxes, make some money off the investment, eventually use the money for other things, and never have to use it for what it was ear-marked for.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)