SubscribeHow To Pick the Brain of a Marketing Professional
I’m honored that many smart and successful people reach out to me on a regular basis to “Pick My Brain” on topics relating to Marketing and Social Media. There’s so much information out there that sometimes it’s hard to prioritize and understand the best ways to take advantage of all the digital tools. Just like you would go talk to a Doctor to seek medical advice, a Lawyer to seek advice about legal issues and an Accountant to seek advice about taxes, there’s definitely a need and desire for people to reach a Marketing Professional to seek advice about marketing their business.
I did a search for “Pick Brain” in my email inbox and immediately found many emails with this exact request for me.
“Currently, I’m trying to wrap my head around this social media thing as well. I’d loved to pick your brain sometime in the near future. I don’t know if I can meet your hourly rate but I can pay for lunch/starbucks when I’m in town.”
“I was wondering if you would be free for lunch sometime next week? I’d love to buy you lunch and pick your brains on all things Social Media/Blogging/Etc.”
“I hope to keep in touch — I’d love to pick your brain over a coffee some time on all kinds of topics!”
“I was wondering if we could meet professional for coffee or something to talk a little about social media? I’ll come to you, I’d just like to pick your brain a bit.”
“Our Meetup is just disastrous and I’m going to start re-vamping it from top to bottom. If you have time check it out and see what you think, I’d love to pick your brain about it”
As a Marketing Consultant, my business thrives on teaching others my expertise. This is what my clients pay me for: To educate them on marketing strategies and give advice on optimizing their presence on social networks. This is also why it’s important for me to emphasize the value in what I do and let people know that when someone asks to “Pick my Brain” they’re really asking for a valuable service that will help them grow their business in significant ways.
Before I continue I’d like to emphasize that I do offer a significant amount of resources and share my knowledge at no cost. This is what I use Social Media for. I frequently give tips on my Facebook Page, write Blog Posts with valuable insight such as 16 Things To Write about in your Business Blog and 10 Ways to Land Your Next Job Through Social Media and a variety of resources on my Twitter stream. Anything beyond what I’m already offering is customized and takes a lot more time and effort for me to ensure I’m providing specific content to help grow your business.
Now to continue more with the “Pick Your Brain” term, here’s what you guys said when I asked what it means to you:
Pick My Brain Definitions
It’s clear that picking my brain is valuable for your business. Because I’m aware of this, I’ve created an opportunity that business owners can take advantage of to”Pick My Brain” with my Small Business Solutions . It’s simple. I’m offering cost efficient solutions to provide effective actionable content that you can execute immediately.
Pick My Brain: One hour consulting call. You have the opportunity to get all your questions answered related to your business, marketing, branding, website, social media, etc. You will receive feedback that includes tactical strategies and actionable content you can implement immediately after the call. You will receive a follow up email within 24 hours of our call with a list of resources related to topics discussed on our call. Investment: $395
Online Evaluation: One hour consulting call. You have the opportunity to go through all of your online engagement tools from your website, blog, videos and social networking sites. I will provide you with insight on how to improve and enhance your current resources. This may include tips on how brand yourself more consistently online, how to create compelling digital messages and how to have your online tools successfully working for you. You will receive a follow up email within 24 hours of our call with a list of resources related to topics discussed on our call. Investment: $395
*COMBO DEAL- Purchase both the Pick My Brain and Online Evaluation options for $695.
Project Plan for Small Businesses (Available only to small businesses who have completed the Online Evaluation service)- After completing the Online Evaluation, Marketing Melodie will create a project plan for small businesses who choose to continue work to improve their marketing strategy. The project plan will be customized to meet your needs and goals.
So here you have it; an easy and valuable way for you to Pick the Brain of a Marketing Professional! If you’re interested in setting up a Pick My Brain or Online Evaluation, or both please don’t hesitate to reach out to me and we’ll get started immediately.
10 Ways to Land Your Next Job Through Social Media
I was recently interviewed by the San Diego Reader on using Social Media to enhance your job search. I shared tips on specific things job seekers can do on social media to improve their chances of standing out to potential employers and I was honest in letting the Reader know that I won’t consider hiring someone if they don’t have a LinkedIn profile. The full article is here. In this post, I’ve compiled a more clear and comprehensive list on how job seekers can use social media and other digital tools to land their next job.
PREPARING FOR YOUR JOB SEARCH
1. Clean up your Digital Footprints- Check your Facebook Privacy Settings to ensure that anything too personal isn’t visible on public Facebook searches. Make sure your Twitter stream isn’t filled with party tweets and do a quick Google search of your name to see if anything that might deter an employer shows up. If you find something unworthy do your best to find the source of that post to get it removed.
2. Optimize Your LinkedIn profile- Make sure you’ve claim your unique LinkedIn URL under “Public Profile Settings”on the bottom right click “Your public profile URL”. Update your summary and specialties using keywords and skills required in the current jobs you’re applying for. Request former employers and partners for LinkedIn recommendations on the work you’ve done.
3. Buy Your Own Domain Name- Whether you’re a job seeker or not, this is a great way to brand yourself as a professional. If your name is already taken, purchase a similar variation. You can use this page for your blog, online portfolio or even just as a landing page which links to your other social networks. Having your own domain will benefit you, especially if you’re seeking a job in any marketing or technology related field.
4. Register for a professional email address – If you’re still using an email address from your cable company such as cox.net or san.rr.net you’re demonstrating lack of understanding on the importance of having a reliable email address. If you change cable companies, your email address is gone. Using an email address from another company or from your university also gives the same message. Use a permanent email address, preferably your own domain. If this isn’t possible I recommend registering for a gmail address. It used to be popular to claim an email address such as beachman21@hotmail or sunshinechick@yahoo, etc. In this day and age it’s important to brand yourself professionally through your email address because often when corresponding to set up an interview, your email is the first impression your employer has about you. Use your real name so the person emailing you back has a reference to remember you before and after the interview.
DURING THE JOB SEARCH PROCESS
5. Save “Advanced Job Searches”- This is an efficient way to learn about new jobs posted that fit your criteria. This varies by website but you’re often able to customize criteria for jobs you’re seeking such as location, keywords in the Job Title, Level, etc under their “Advanced Search”. After typing in your criteria for a new job you’ll often find an option to “Save” the search. Each time you return to the site, rather than searching again, you can go back and review your “Saved Searches” to see if anything new has been posted. Some sites also offer an RSS Feed you can subscribe to for your specific job search. You can add the RSS feed to your browser bookmarks for easy access in reviewing new job postings.
6. Read Blogs about Industry Related Topics- Make sure you do as much research as possible not only about the companies you’re applying for but the entire industry. When you step into the interview, it will be beneficial to understand major news that’s happening in your field. Your knowledge will shine through during the interview process. Blogs provide you with personal insight from people who work directly at the companies and industries you’re interested in.
7. Use Social Bookmarks to Organize Your Job Search- Delicious.com is my social bookmarking tool of choice. It allows you to organize websites you visit, tag pages and take notes about each web page. You can create folders for topics relating to your job search and bookmark all the websites that fit your folder topic such as: Job Search Tips, Companies you’ve applied to, Industry News and Articles, etc. You can access your delicious account anywhere on the web.
8. Tweet about relevant industry topics/articles- As you do your research from reading blogs, tweet/share articles you find beneficial to people in your industry. Also post tips you’ve learned from your research. Even if your employer doesn’t check your Twitter account, the act of posting valuable information makes you more resourceful and knowledgeable.
DURING THE INTERVIEW PROCESS
9. Look up your Interviewers on Social Media Before the Interview- If you understand the career history of your interviewer you’ll be able to speak to things that may related to him/her. You’ll also have insight on their background which will help you understand why certain questions they’re asking may be important.
10. Follow up through Email, Social Media AND a Thank You Card- After the interview, immediately follow up with a thank you email stating your gratitude for the interview and enthusiasm for the position. Also let the interviewer know you’ll connect with them on LinkedIn or another relevant Social Network. This way they expect your request and know you’ll be reaching out to them. In addition to following up digitally, add an old fashioned personal touch by sending a hand written thank you. This is a unique way to stay top of mind and demonstrate your appreciation.
If anyone has additional Job Search tips related to Social Media, please feel free to share! If you have success stories on using Social Media to land your current job, I would love to hear them as well. To all the job seekers out there, best of luck to you and here’s prosperous career ventures in a digital age!
How To Attract Loyal Customers with Daily Deals
Daily Deal sites, also known as Collective Buying sites are a recent phenomenon sweeping the nation for both consumers and business owners. It’s a coupon/discount site that offers exclusive deals if a certain demand is reached through the power of collective buying.
For consumers it’s an opportunity to try a new place or activity at an unbeatable price. For business owners, it’s an opportunity to showcase their food or services to a new audience and earn loyal customers. This sounds like a win-win situation! However I’ve been hearing many business owners complain about their brand being devalued and not gaining any repeat business when they participate in a Collective Buying campaign.
Before reading any further, keep in mind, Collective Buying, just like any other marketing method is not for everyone. It may not be the right strategy for your business so if that’s the case, there’s absolutely no reason to force a deal, then to be upset later that it didn’t work. If you do decide to embark on Collective Buying here are tips on how to successfully execute a campaign to gain new exposure, repeat customers and enhance the value of your brand.
1. Positive Attitude - Attitude is everything, especially when it comes to creating wealth in your business. Don’t create a self fulfilling prophecy with the mindset that Deal sites don’t work. I hear so many business owners complain about using these sites, then submit a deal anyway only to affirm their original believe that it doesn’t work. Just as you pay for any other marketing campaign and understand that the money is an investment, you are paying for your Collective Buying Campaign through products or services. Many business owners constantly complain “I am losing so much money”. Believing that the products you invest is “losing money” automatically puts a negative perspective in your mind about the entire process. Go into the campaign knowing that this is a positive marketing investment and stop thinking about how you are losing money. You are gaining customers. You are getting new exposure and you’re driving new traffic into your location.
2. Create an offer that Adds Value- You want customers to associate your deal as having high value rather than a cheap service. It is true that once some customers receive your service at a discounted rate, they’re less inclined to buy your product at a regular rate. There are many ways to word your “deal”. If 50%-60 off sounds absurd for what you’re offering, get creative. I recently bought a deal that was $20 for “Wine Tasting for Two and a Bottle of Wine”. You can create “Two for One” deals. Deals that charge a price and offer service such as “$25 for a 5 course Meal”, “$50 for a Massage and Manicure” sound more valuable than “50% off a 5 Course meal”. All of these examples offer a great deal but they’re also creating more value with your brand because they don’t mention anything about discounting a service.
3. Encourage Customers to Share – When offering a collective deal, this is the best opportunity to get your loyal customers to share your business with their friends or family. You’re allowing them to invite others to try something they love at a great price. Post the deal to your own networks such as Facebook, Twitter, Email list and blog. Allow people to buy multiple deals to give as gifts. Your best advocates are those who already love your product or service so make it easy for them to share your business with their friends
4. Prepare You Staff- Ensure you have extra staff on hand to handle the immediate increase in business as most people will redeem their deal immediately. In addition, ensure your entire staff is educated and aware of your deal. There is nothing more embarrassing for a customer when they come in to your establishment to redeem a deal you’ve offered then receive a blank stare from your employee who proceeds to say they have no idea what the customer is talking about. This is a sure way to guarantee your potential new customer won’t feel comfortable coming back. Make sure your staff is not only aware of the deal but completely understands all the fine print. This allows your staff to welcome and embrace the new customer. I’ve heard complaints of many places providing poor customer service to Deal users because they don’t think they’ll ever return. Your business should be doing the complete opposite, give the Deal user exceptional service and give them a reason to return.
5. A Reason to Return - Many people who use collective buying sites are looking for the best deal. After purchasing your deal they might move on to the next deal they find. When they’re in your establishment you have their full attention so this is your chance to get them to commit to coming back before they move on. For example, if you’re offering yoga classes and the customer purchased 1 month for $50, you can offer them that same rate or slightly higher if they sign up for 3 more months. If you’re offering spa service such as a 1 hour massage, you can offer your customer a massage package if they sign up immediately where they can sign up for 3 more massages at a discount. This is an opportunity for you to encourage your new customer to return before they even have a chance to move on to the next deal.
Have you purchased any daily deals? Please share your favorites, your experience with the establishment as a deal user and if you returned as a customer or not. If you don’t already have an account to check out daily deals, here are some popular sites you can sign up for to get the scoop on the best deals in your city:
Tis the Season for Marketing Yourself to Advance Your Career
The Holiday spirit is in the air but before you pack your bags for a long vacation, keep in mind that this week is the PRIME week for job seekers and business professionals to market themselves and get their foot in the door. Whether you’re working to land that big client, seeking new career opportunities or wanting a promotion within your company, these 4 simple tips will help you reach your goals while putting you in the Holiday spirit.
1. Attend Holiday Parties- Everyone loves holiday parties! They’re festive, fun and flowing with libations from spiked egg nog to spiced rum. Use these gatherings to your advantage to tactfully schmooze with someone in your industry you’ve always looked up to. Job seeking? Many professional organizations host Holiday parties open to the public. You’ll meet industry leaders of companies you may be interested in working for. Don’t be too formal when introducing yourself. Just enjoy the Holiday cheer and you’ll find that most people are more relaxed about giving you tips on how to advance in your career especially if they’re about to go on vacation. This means they’re in a good mood.
2. Holiday Cards and Gifts- This is the best time to send a holiday greeting to prospects. Sending Holiday cards has diminished due to email and ecards so you’ll stand out when a prospective employer or client receives a nice hand written note from you. Don’t worry if your cards don’t arrive on Christmas Day. It’s often nice to receive a greeting to kick off the New Year. This also ensures your cards won’t get lost in the stack. If you have prospective clients, perhaps send them a small gift that relates to your industry. In my field, sending a Marketing or Social Media book is a great example of a thoughtful and cost effective present.
3. Holiday Temp Work- If you’re unemployed or seeking a new job, this is a great opportunity to temp for a company that also has long term potential. Avoid seasonal jobs since your position won’t be relevant after the holiday rush. Signing up for a temp agency won’t cost anything and they can place you at a company you’re qualified for. Many employees go on extended vacations during this time so you may find a position at a company that needs your service year round. Remember to take your temp position seriously. This is an amazing opportunity to get your foot in the door so when permanent jobs open in the future the employer will immediately think of you.
4. Social Media Greetings- While hand written cards are more formal, sending a holiday greeting through Social Media is also a great way to reach out to your network. Find a relevant industry article that the person you’re connecting with will find helpful for their business. Depending on how you’re connected to the person, send it through LinkedIn, a reply on Twitter or post it on their Facebook wall. You can add a personal Holiday note to let them now you’re thinking of them while also demonstrating how resourceful you are by providing them with information they can use.
If you have any other career development tips for the Holiday Season please share in the comments below. Wishing everyone a wonderful Holiday season and a prosperous New Year!
How To Encourage Authentic Yelp Reviews for Your Business
In honor of my newly awarded Yelp *ELITE* status I’m inspired to share insight on how your business can use Yelp as an effective marketing tool and increase the chances that you’ll receive reviews from your customers.
Many businesses make the mistake of getting all of their friends and family to write positive reviews in order to boost their ratings. It’s important to keep in mind that this strategy is inauthentic and won’t work because of Yelp’s Review Filter. Yelp strives to provide a forum with real reviews and experiences that’s a true resource for consumers. Here’s how to encourage authentic Yelp reviews from customers who are already avid Yelpers.
1. Reward Yelpers- Show Yelpers that you acknowledge and appreciate their reviews but rewarding them after they write a review. This isn’t something you need to promote. In fact promoting that your customer will get something for a reviews is, bribery therefore does not earn you authentic reviews. I have two examples of how I’ve seen this done.
Burger Lounge- In October 2009, Burger Lounge announced that if you previously reviewed their business on Yelp, they wanted to thank you with a free burger on a specific day. This promotion was for those who already reviewed Burger Lounge, so even if you hadn’t reviewed them yet you still heard the positive buzz which may have encouraged you to try them out and write a review to possibly benefit from future promotions. I was one of the lucky reviewers, happily claimed my Yelp Burger (Veggie) and definitely shared this news with my entire network optimizing Burger Lounge’s exposure even more.
Dr. Grant McGann Oral & Reconstructive Surgery- After going to Dr. Grant McGann for my wisdom teeth, I wanted to share my positive experience with others. I submitted my Yelp review and to my pleasant surprise received a Thank You letter from Dr. McGann a couple weeks later. He enclosed two movie passes to show his appreciation. Of course after I received the letter, I took a photo and shared it with my entire network which resulted people not only being aware of what a great surgeon he is, but also praising him for being Social Media savvy.
2. Include Yelp Links Everywhere- I’m seeing many people include links to their Facebook and Twitter in various outlets but noticed many are forgetting Yelp. Include a link to your Yelp page on your email signature, website, email newsletters, Facebook page, etc. so your customers will start associating your business with Yelp.
3. Post Events on Yelp- Many businesses create Facebook invites to promote their events but most don’t know you can list your event on Yelp. Adding your event to Yelp provides you exposure to new customers who are Yelpers. If someone finds out about your event on Yelp they’re most likely an avid Yelper who is more likely to review your business.
4. Highlight Positive Yelp Reviews- Positive Yelp reviews can be used as testimonials for your business. Include a Yelper’s quote in your newsletter, website or Facebook update. You can also tweet portions of reviews with a link back to your Yelp page. This will remind people that you’re on Yelp and provide more credibility to your business as customers see other validating your company.
5. Address Yelper’s concerns- While we would all love to have 5 Star reviews 100% of the time, this won’t happen. Accept this and receive negative Yelp reviews as constructive criticism that will help you improve your business. If you read a review from a customer who has a real concern, take the initiative to reach out to them so they know you care about their experience. Depending on the concern you may want to offer them something to encourage them to try your business again. Perhaps a gift certificate or a refund. How you handle the situation can really make a difference in how that person talks about your business in the future. Many people will even go on and write an updated review after trying your business again.
What is your experience with Yelp? Are you an avid Yelper? Do you use it to find services or products? Has your business benefited from being on Yelp? Please feel free to share your insight in the comments below. Feel free to also follow Marketing Melodie’s Yelp Reviews.
How To Optimize Your Public Relations Effort for Social Media
Living an inspired life means I see positive opportunities under any circumstance. Combining my inspiration with my entrepreneurial mindset means that in any given situation a light bulb will go off with a new idea for a blog post! (Even during Earthquakes). This public relations blog post was inspired by my 3 minutes of television fame while modeling for My Fashion Plate on NBC a couple months ago. View my TV appearance clip here! Read more
