Blog
How Did You Make Your Customers Feel?
August 17th, 2009 by Todd Schnick
Cartoon by @gapingvoid
- What are you doing – with every decision and action – to make your customers have a wow experience?
- What was it about their experience with you that was and is memorable? Do you know what you want to your customers to feel?
- Will they tell people in their circle about you?
- And if so, what will be the story they talk about?
- Are your employees EMPOWERED to make the customer experience one to remember?
Xtreme Marketing: August Workshop
August 12th, 2009 by Todd Schnick
Photo by gnsk on Flickr
“Business is a combination of war and sport.” [Andre Maurois]
On August 29th, Taryn Pisaneschi and I will conduct our second Xtreme Marketing Workshop: The Fusion of Networking, Social Media, and Personal Branding.
Marketing is as critical as ever. But the marketplace is as crowded – and as cluttered – as ever. And most people are scrambling to be remarkable in a tough environment. And they certainly aren’t having fun doing it.
I suppose you could attend any one of the many run-of-the-mill workshops that exist, or read one of millions of sales and marketing books available…
…or you could go XTREME! Add some fun, a little edge to your marketing. Attend this workshop and learn to think about your marketing a little differently.
Workshop Details:
- Saturday, August 29th
- REGISTER HERE!
- 1000AM to 300PM
- $75
- Lunch included
- Midtown Athletic Club at Windy Hill – 135 Interstate North Parkway SE, Marietta GA 30339
- Bring your laptop – Free WiFi
Todd’s Program:
- Understanding the the Xtreme Marketing Paradigm Shift.
- The Assumptions – the playbook for hand-to-hand marketing combat.
- Creating your game plan, your strategy. Yeah, dude, you need one!
- Setting up a blog. Easier than you think…
- Choose your weapons – how to determine which social media applications are right for you.
- Integrating social media into your overall marketing strategy.
- Learn the secret to creating your ideal personal brand…
Taryn’s Program
- How networking can power your personal brand.
- The fundamentals of connecting with people.
- Taryn’s Secret Dos and Dont’s
- …and how social media plays a part.
- The ONE thing you must do before you begin…
- How to MAXIMIZE your time investment – FOLLOW-UP!
- How to tell your Xtreme story in a way people will remember!
Group Program:
- Discussion of REAL WORLD case studies
- Your successes and failures. Our successes and failures!
- Design Your Own Xtreme Daily Regimen
Here is some feedback from the July ‘09 Workshop:
@positivepam Ready to explode my marketing efforts as a result of the Xtreme Marketing Seminar I’m attending right now with @toddschnick and @tarynp !!!
@cherylmettler Reviewing social media networking tips learned in my Xtreme Marketing class today presented by Todd Schnick and Taryn Pisaneschi.
@elainebylos At the Xtreme Marketing workshop. Learning invaluable information from @toddschnick and @tarynp
25 Steps To Fortify Your Customer’s Brand Relationship With You…
August 11th, 2009 by Todd Schnick
I am asked every day whether a person should build a brand around themselves personally, or around their business. That question, without knowing the bigger picture, is difficult to answer.
But, to be honest, I generally lean towards building a desired brand identity and positioning around YOU. People like to buy from someone they know, trust, and have a good relationship with. Obviously, this is more difficult if you are part of a larger organization…
What you MUST understand is this: you can’t simply create a “brand” out of thin air. You have to earn it. And the market determines what your brand is, because of the reputation you have earned in achieving it. You can say you are the “customer service” company, but if your customer service is poor, the market place will determine otherwise.
That said, here are a few ideas on things you can do to help strengthen the relationship your market, your customers, and your prospects – have with your brand:
- Be honest. Always.
- Do what you promise. Always.
- Think about your customers first. With every decision. I mean every decision.
- Have all stakeholders in your organization bought into the same, consistent organizational message.
- And then deliver that message consistently.
- Think service first, selling second.
- Live your positioning. If you say you are a green company, be green.
- Give back to the community.
- Be yourself.
- Admit fault. And seek to fix it.
- Focus on the little things. They matter…
- Strive to be perfect in every way. From big picture stuff to the mundane…
- Be intrepid. Don’t be afraid to try new things. Don’t play it safe.
- Don’t embrace the status quo. You will die a slow death…
- Seek to stand out. Make it easy for people to distinguish you.
- But make it easy for people to know you.
- Be accessible. Communicate well.
- When using social media, truly engage with people.
- Listen.
- Live up to expectations.
- Be sure your marketing tells a story…
- …And pushes emotional buttons.
- Provide a strong pre-purchase customer experience…
- …but don’t forget the post-purchase experience.
- Does your product or service deliver on what you promise?
You can make a choice to do nothing, and let the branding chips fall where they may. Or you can choose to earn your brand, and make the choice to strengthen your customer’s brand relationship.
What will you choose? And what other ideas can you share?
He Said, She Said – Vol. 2 – The Entrepreneurial Challenge
August 7th, 2009 by Todd Schnick
Welcome to Episode 2 of the groundbreaking video series He Said, She Said, where Stephanie A. Lloyd and I discuss and debate the hot topics of the day. [See more about Stephanie Lloyd below!]
Today’s question, posed by Stephanie, is “what is your biggest challenge as an entrepreneur?” Watch the videos for our comments. More importantly, we need you to share: What are your biggest challenges as entrepreneurs? What are your ideas to help Stephanie and I work through our struggles?
Post your answers on our respective blogs, and/or on Twitter using the #HSSS hashtag.
The best part of this new series has been the pleasure of working with Stephanie Lloyd. She and I are the classic case of two folks who met on Twitter, developed an online friendship, and now have joined forces to change the world.
Stephanie is Founder and CEO of Radiant Veracity in Atlanta, Georgia. She is a nationally recognized writer, blogger, and columnist on the topic of talent strategy, and career and job search. Stephanie has been a frequent guest on local radio, and just recently was featured on 11Alive news in Atlanta.
Stephanie works with hiring managers, HR executives, business owners, and recruiting firms on recruitment and retention strategy including how to better utilize social media for talent acquisition and employee communication. Additionally, she helps individuals by providing guidance on subjects ranging from the job search to personal branding and career advancement strategies.
You can find her complete bio here…
And you can find her post of Volume 2 here…
Video is Power to your Marketing!
August 6th, 2009 by Todd Schnick
Be An Intrepid Marketer – Recommendation No. 30
Marketing is tough business these days. It is increasingly difficult to stand out. You need to find any edge you can get. Video is just one little simple technique you can use to stand out in today’s marketplace. But fair warning – this will change – and soon video will be EVERYWHERE. Take advantage of it while you can…
Here are two sample videos for Intrepid client FuegoMundo South American Wood-Fire Grill that we will use to promote on our blog and in social media…
