Weedin 360

I spoke to a group of business leaders yesterday on the topic of value propositions. I recently wrote an article in the Kitsap Business Journal encouraging you to dump your elevator speech and take the stairs with a powerful value proposition. One of the best ways to get ideas to create a terrific value propositions is with using testimonials.

Ask your best clients why they use your services, what values they realized, and what they would tell others about you. It’s often difficult to think up your own value, but when you use the words of others, it provides you with two things:

1. Great ideas on key words, phrases, and sound bytes to your value. You may even learn that you are giving value that you didn’t know about!
2. It’s always best to use the words of others to describe your value. It carries more weight with prospects.

Ask your clients why they like working with you to help you develop a killer value proposition. Then go out and find people and business to help!

© 2010 Dan Weedin. All Rights Reserved

I was a guest speaker for the North Mason Chamber of Commerce this morning. The topic was how to create, write, and leverage the marketing gravity for a blog.

One of the great things about blogs are that they can build credibility globally. One lady in the audience is an interior designer that also specializes in “staging” homes for sale. I asked the question, “What does she gain by having a global blog?”  Here are a few answers:

1. She can use it as credibility in the marketplace to gain publishing opportunities – books, e-books, articles, columns, syndication, etc.
2. She can become a speaker for national conferences for realtors, architects, construction, interior designers, etc.
3. She can gain opportunities to be used as a source for interviews in national publications.

That’s just 3 things. What about you? What marketing gravity can you gain from your expertise? It can all start with a provocative, value-laden blog.

© 2010. Dan Weedin. All Rights Reserved

Watching the NCAA tournament reminds me of the power of momentum. As a former high school basketball coach, I remember pounding the idea of “Big Mo” into my players on a regular basis. Momentum, both positive and negative, is contagious. It often decides the outcome of a basketball game. It also often determines the outcome of your business.

Where is your momentum? If it’s on a negative slide, you must do whatever it takes to change it. Make alterations to your schedule, try new techniques, visit clients, ask for more referrals, etc. Take calculated risks and get the momentum turned.

If you are on a good cycle, put your foot on the accelerator. Keep momentum going as long as you can because it will literally “will” you to success.

“Big Mo” is decisive in basketball and in your business. Get it on your side.

© 2010 Dan Weedin. All Rights Reserved

I recently was leaving a parking lot when I noticed an old, blue pickup truck with a graphic promotion printed on the gate. I was half-expecting to see a landscaping or construction company promo based on the vehicle, but was surprised to read this…

“Grandpa seeks female for friendship” followed by the old guys phone number.

Now that’s shameless promotion!

If you really believe the product or service you offer is truly valuable in improving the lives and businesses of others, then you must practice shameless promotion. This fact was really drilled into my brain by my mentor, Alan Weiss. We are not in the snake-oil salesman game. What we do as consultants, entrepreneurs, small and large businesses, and professional services really do help others and they need to know about it. The only one who can get the word out with passion and conviction is you!

Here are a five painless ways to practice shameless promotion:

• Consistent press releases
• Speaking
• Publishing
• Networking
• Referrals

In everything you do, you must provide value. You must be credible. You must be sincere. It ends up being a win-win for everyone when you can improve the lives and business of others. The only way you can do that is if they know you exist.

There are now plenty of ladies in my community that know “Grandpa” is looking for friendship.  Take a cue from him and shamelessly promote your value.

© 2010 Dan Weedin. All Rights Reserved

In most business organizations, especially professional services, it’s incumbent on the business to make life easy for the customer or client, not the other way around.

I found that my newly designed “landing page” was in need of some work because it didn’t do a good job of making life easy for those who “landed” there. With valuable advice from my community and professionals I trusted, I swiftly did a re-design on this site to make it more of a table of contents for all the services and value I offer.  (Many thanks to Jenn Putnam and Jennergy)

View my new page

The re-design allows visitors to quickly scan areas of interest and decide where they want to go next.  And, yes, this will continue to be a work in progress.  Cyberspace requires fluidity.  My Speaking to Influence web site is next on my agenda to revamp, and plans are underway.  But, I digress…

What about you?  When was the last time you cleaned up your web site?  In today’s world, I can’t imagine going past 12 months!  Things change, you change, your services change, and most importantly, what your client and customers want and need from you change.

Here’s your weekend homework – go to your web site and start imagining what it would look like ideally.  Even if you’ve just made changes, fast forward in your head for future innovation.  In this rapidly evolving business world we find ourselves in, you can never allow yourself to get behind the 8-ball.

Then, after you’ve made a mental picture of your newly designed site, take action.  Create a game plan and time-line for completion. You don’t have to (and shouldn’t) do this alone.  But get started no matter what you do.  Remember, this is your 24/7 brochure, resource center, and store front.  It should reflect you and your business.

© 2010 Dan Weedin. All Rights Reserved

Dear Tiger,

As an avid golfer for the past 31 years, a fan of your game and what you’ve done for the sport, and as a concerned human being, I’m sending you this open letter with unparalleled advice on how to get your “game” back on track. I know you pay the boys from New York big-time dough to help you, but I think they’ve done a crummy job with this recent transgression.  You see, I’m a consultant and I know a thing or two about branding, communications, and life balance.  It seems you like to use the Internet as your mouthpiece, so I figure this is the best way to reach you.  All that being said, let’s get started…

1. Fix your family first.  If you are serious about what your statement said, then I applaud you.  Nothing is more important for you than your wife and children.  Looks like you’ve committed about 11 triple-bogeys in a row on the family game.  You’re going to need a few extra rounds to get back to even par.  This is job #1.
2. Stop hiding behind your web site.  I know you want privacy, but you can’t be the Tiger Woods brand, rake in a billion dollars, and then want to be left alone.  You can’t have it both ways, dude.  Take a cue from A-Rod (I can’t believe I wrote that), Letterman, Clinton, Agassi, et al and get your face (battered as it might be) in front of the world and say the things you’re writing on your web site.  Sorry, it’s the only way.  Right now, it looks and feels like you’re hiding.  Chip out of the tall rough and take your medicine with your public.
3. Get back on Tour soon.  You’re killing the PGA.  Just killing it.  Last year when you were out with injury, the ratings dropped 50%.  50%!  Your buddies on the tour are being forced to respond to questions about you.  Your lack of presence will hurt the league, the players, the purses, and everything else involved with the sport.  I don’t care if you have to hire some big dude to keep you honest off the course.  You owe it to the PGA to get back to doing the thing you do best.
4. Get help.  You’ve had a dozen coaches help you with your game.  Now you need coaches to help you with your marriage, your children, your communications, how you interact with the media, etc.
5. Offer to take a pay cut from your sponsors.  They can’t even run ads with your image now.  Nike, Gatorade, Gillette, Accenture and the rest are in crisis management.  As much as you’ve hurt the PGA, the ripple effect goes to them, too.  I think you’ve got enough to live on for a few years.  Give them a break because you didn’t hold up your end of the bargain.
6. Stop being a victim.  One of your prior statements chastised the media for interrupting your life.  If you’re going to apologize, dump the “I’m sorry, but” language.  Your not the victim, man.  Whoever wrote that for you should be fired.
7. When you do get back on the course, you need to stop swearing, throwing clubs, throwing tantrums, etc. Like it or not, you are a role model for all those kids learning the game and idolizing you.  They will still watch you.  Take an extra heaping of humility and be a good sport.
8. Last one – Get a Life.  In order to be a well-rounded human, you need to be more than a one-trick pony.  You have the opportunity to influence more than anyone else in the sports world today.  Only Babe Ruth, Muhammad Ali, and Michael Jordan have “owned” the owned the stage as a sports star like you have.

I hope you get started on these right away.  Some may be painful, but the pain doesn’t last forever unless you let it.  My invoice is in the mail.  I took a little off because I love the sport and we need you.  Don’t let everyone down.

Best,

Dan Weedin

© 2009 Dan Weedin – All Rights Reserved

If you’re in business, you know one of the base fundamentals for success is developing your brand.  Once you’ve got a brand, you have to make sure people know about you.  In today’s technologically adept world, it’s easier than ever.  The question is, are you doing it?

It’s very easy to get wrapped up in social media and technology to the point of it being a time dump.  As I sit here and type out this blog, I already know my marketing strategy for it – Twitter, Facebook, Linked In, Plaxo.  Most of these sites are inter-related so when I post to one, I post to all.  A huge time saver.

Are you utilizing You Tube?  If you’re like me, you are a visual learner.  I enjoy watching people on video, whether its a training or a testimonial.  What can you do for your business to promote your services and provide value?  It’s free and it’s viral.  What are you waiting for?

Bottom line – if you are in business, you need people to understand how they can be improved by your services, advice, or work.  People still buy on trust and need.  The more you can disseminate your message to more people in varied ways, the more opportunities you will have to help them.

How do you communicate your message?

I am pleased to announce that I’ve been quoted in a featured article in the June, 2009 Toastmaster Magazine.  The article is written by Lin Grensing-Prophal and details strategies and tips to networking in “Here’s How to Work a Room.”

Toastmaster Magazine only provides an online web link to current members with a password. If you’re a member please check out your hard copy magazine which you should have just received.  I’d love to hear your comments.

For those that aren’t Toastmasters, here is the quote…

“Personal stories can provide excellent opportunities to connect with people, says Weedin.  If you have a chance to relate a personal story, do it, he says. Fun stories are well received, especially when humor is involved.  Use your best story – especially if a little self-deprecating – to connect with your audience.“

My thanks to Lin for an excellent article and for using my words.  I hope you find the piece valuable to your business.

Cheers,

Two months ago I spoke to a networking group of women business professionals on effective business communications.  The emphasis was on public speaking and networking and we focused on the simple use of presenting your value proposition as opposed to a contrived elevator speech.  I adhere to a networking technique I learned from my pal Doug Petch.  The technique is for when someone asks what you do is, “I help ________ who want to ________.”

Examples – “I help insurance buyers who want to reduce their total cost of insurance.”  “I help business professionals who want to become more dynamic presenters.”  “I help insurance agents who want to advance their careers.”

What’s the common response back?

“How?”

Thus starts a conversation where you can begin to build relationships.

I was invited back to this wonderful group today to speak on a separate subject.  They started their meeting by introducing themselves and every one of them started with their value proposition.  In fact, after each presentation, the rest of the group would in unison ask, “HOW?”  Then the member would tell how.  What a great way to practice.

The bottom line is that this particular group of business professionals decided to take what a speaker taught them, make it an emphasis, teach it to those who weren’t even at the meeting, and expand on it to make it relavent to all.  That’s what I call putting it into practice!

Do you put what you learn into practice?  How many workshops or seminars have you attended and then left the great strategies buried in a pile somewhere?  I admit I’ve been guilty of that.  Here is a great example of building on what you learn and making it a part of your strategy.  It’s getting the most out of your investment.

Cheers,

Are you part of a non-profit organization that wants to increase its awareness and revenues without a huge out-of-pocket expense?  More and more organizations are using social media leaders Twitter and Facebook to do just that.  I’ve written a three-page position paper that will help your organization create a game plan for this marketing opportunity.  To get this free paper, just e-mail me at dan@danweedin.com and I will send you a PDF.

Cheers,

P.S. I’m holding a special teleseminar training on Twitter for Business on April 22nd.  You can use the same strategies for your non-profit.  To register, click on the “Featured Items” tab at the top of this blog.