Things are changing very quickly in many industries. In the next several years, we will see major disruptions in every major industry. Harnessing and exploiting change continues to be at the top of every CEO’s wish list into the far future. To take advantage of these opportunities, we must become…
Today we all compete to get our readers’ attention. Our best readers may be exposed to over 30,000 different messages in a 24 hour period. How do you create great headlines and content that are not only seen, but acted on? How do you create a better headline strategy for…
You invest significant time to write a great article. When you’re finished, you can’t wait to share it with the world. What if I told you if you invest as little as 20 minutes more you could increase your readership and sharing by double, triple, or 10X? What the secret…
This week, even in the secular news media, Americans will be seeing plenty of coverage of Pope Francis’ historic visit to the United States. This is not just his first visit to the U.S. as pope, but his first visit ever. Pope Francis will have a busy schedule—meeting with the president, addressing Congress (another historic first) and the United Nations, and then on to Philadelphia for the World Meeting of Families. And again, the news will be all over it. Which begs the question: why is Pope Francis so popular, even among those who regard themselves as non-religious?
When I work with startup clients I always try to quickly evaluate their leadership brand. Over the years, I discovered that most successful startups have a bold leadership brand. These successful entrepreneurs are always looking to build a bolder leadership brand. But what does it take to stand out in…
Not long ago I was in a meeting with some business colleagues. As we were wrapping up our discussion, one member of the group, an established graphic designer, shared a portfolio of previous work she had done over the years. It was actually a simple, yet elegant photo album of business logos and corporate identities she had compiled. Another member of the group was flipping through it, wishing that he had something tangible to share with prospects of his own. However, his profession wasn’t graphic communication! It was tax, accounting and payroll services! “How do I demonstrate my work in a portfolio?” he asked. Indeed, how do you “show” rather than just tell?
Not long ago, one mid-afternoon I stopped into a Target store to pick up a prescription at the pharmacy. While neither the store nor the pharmacy counter were very busy that time of the day, I found myself waiting a bit longer than expected to get served for my pickup. When I reached the counter, there was only one other customer there–an older lady who had picked up her medication only moments before. She was clearly engaged in talking to the store clerk about some issues she was having–stresses brought on by family or health I guess. The clerk did not appear to be saying much; she was really allowing the customer to do some private venting of some sort. I did not see it very long (wanting to respect the lady’s privacy), but I do know that it lasted at least ten minutes.
For many high growth business leaders, it’s critical to tell a great story to your clients and other stakeholders. Why is a good story so important to your long term financial success? I have found that good leaders, like good storytellers, understand how stories can help them during all phases…
I’ve spoken and written about the value of testimonials before. Indeed they are so important that they merit further discussion. After all, we know that client testimonials can be one of the best ways to grab the attention of prospects in your marketing. They are truly social proof…giving you credibility and demonstrating your successful track record. Most importantly they reflect the feelings that your clients have when you have served them with success.
What’s the biggest shift in marketing over the past several years? Successful entrepreneurs today understand how important it is to target their message to their best clients and markets. These entrepreneurs understand the importance of creating a message that resonates with their key clients and customers. Target marketing can increase the…