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Something Outside of the Ordinary, Outside of Business--Something Personal
Posted on January 28, 2005 by Sarah Eaton.
Today I had a phone conversation that made me think about how I talk to people, and how they talk to me.
It was with someone who has been trying to sell me a product for a while now--he just called to touch base and let me know he was appearing on a television show next week.
Really? I asked. Which one? And we went from there. By the end of the call we were chatting away like a couple of old school chums.
He presented me with some information that was out of the ordinary, something that was outside of our business connection, something personal. It was a sales script of a different sort--a conversation.
That sales rep stopped being a voice and became a person. The next time he calls, I won't have that moment of disconnect while I try to place his name.
Hmmm...I thought to myself...I can be having these "conversation" things with everybody I talk to.
January 28, 2005 in award winning blog, award winning magazine, award winning newsletter, Blog Outsourcing, blog publish, build credibility, Building B2B Relationships, Business newsletter, Business publications, corporate magazine | Permalink | Comments (1)
Check it out, check it off
Posted on January 27, 2005 by Sarah Eaton.
You know me...I like anything that brings people together. If it were up to me, we'd all be holding hands right now, singing songs we learned as children at camp.
There's only one problem with that: if we're holding hands, I can't type. So, instead, let's make to-do lists and share them with each other using this remarkably simple freebie app--Ta-da.
January 27, 2005 in blog publish, build credibility, corporate magazine, Corporate publications | Permalink | Comments (0)
Love Your Customers
Posted on January 26, 2005 by Sarah Eaton.
Dana VanDen Heuvel's blog pointed me to this column by Kirsten Osolind.
Go ahead. Don't be shy. Build those business relationships and love your customers.
January 26, 2005 in blog publish, Blogs, business magazine, corporate magazine | Permalink | Comments (1)
Take Baby Steps, You Overachiever
Posted on January 25, 2005 by Sarah Eaton.
Face it, smarty-pants, you cannot possibly do everything. Not by tomorrow, not by next week, not even if you start sleeping in your office. Some sound advice from Sean D'Souza on cutting the chaos in your goal-setting:
- Step One: Get yourself a sheet of paper and a pen. No need to be extravagant. A Post-It will do nicely. Turn off your computer. Otherwise you'll get some darned email and this plan of yours will turn to custard.
- Step Two: Write down the three main projects to be achieved and by how much.
- Step Three: Post the Post-It on your wall, computer—wherever you can see it.
- Step Four: Extravagance is in order. List everything you need to do to achieve those three main projects. You can use the format above.
- Step Five: Drink a tomato juice. You've earned it. If this plan took all day to write down, add vodka.
[Link]
January 25, 2005 in Blog Outsourcing, Building Customer Intuition, bulk email marketing, CMO, Corporate newsletter | Permalink | Comments (0)
Bleeding-Edge e-Buzzwords
Posted on January 20, 2005 by Sarah Eaton.
I have a confession to make. I use these overused words all the time. I have said the word "solution" at least fourteen times today, and it isn't yet noon. I put the prefix "e-" in front of words without discrimation.
"Just popping out to walk the e-dog," I call over my shoulder as I leave the house.
"Man, I have so much e-work to do today!" I pipe up enthusiastically to my co-workers.
And, honestly, when communicating with your customers and prospects, I think these words can act as shorthand to express something that is too complex to explain without taking up hours of their time. These words have their place.
But...these words can also form barriers between you and your customers. What would happen if you took the time to say what you really mean instead of relying on buzzwords?
January 20, 2005 in award winning blog, award winning magazine, Blogging Tools, build credibility, Building Customer Community, Business newsletter, Business publications, company newsletter, Company publication, Corporate publications | Permalink | Comments (1)
Read Minds, Improve Sales
Posted on January 19, 2005 by Sarah Eaton.
Know what's really easy? Selling stuff to people when you know what they want.
Here's an article (by moi) that shows you how to read your customers' and prospects' minds without relying on the somewhat unreliable art of telepathy.
I know you want to read it.
January 19, 2005 in CMO, company blog, company magazine, company newsletter, Company newsletters, Company publication | Permalink | Comments (0)
This Just In: Business Relationships are Relationships, too
Posted on January 18, 2005 by Sarah Eaton.
Something practical from Chris Baggott:
Relationships happen between people..end of story. Most organizations invest a ton in their human capital. The people who face your customers: Owners, Salespeople, managers, Customer Service….and then these relationship owners are ignored when it comes to marketing. The fastest way to build a relationship between your prospects/customers and your company is to engage them with a human being.
January 18, 2005 in Blog Outsourcing, blog publish, Blogging Tools, Brand enhancement, build credibility, Building B2B Relationships, Building Customer Community, Building Customer Intuition, bulk email marketing, corporate magazine | Permalink | Comments (0)
Direct email marketing: entrepreneurial experiences
Posted on January 13, 2005 by Sarah Eaton.
Entrepreneur extraordinaire (and my boss) Todd Smart, has begun a regular column in our monthly e-newsletter (sign up here). This month, he ranted on business differentiators--whether you fall into the category of "entrepreneur" or not, everybody loves a good rant.
[Read it.]
January 13, 2005 in Blog Outsourcing, Blogging Tools, Blogs, Building Customer Intuition, bulk email marketing, Business publications, Company newsletters | Permalink | Comments (0)
Company newsletter: boost your online presence
Posted on January 11, 2005 by Sarah Eaton.
Hilary Marsh of Content Company has a great list of tricks for keeping your website fresh. Here are the most recent:
Periodically review your competitors' websites. Make sure yours has a professional look, up-to-date content and intuitive navigation. Start an email newsletter, so that when your site is updated, your customers know about it. Keep your company leaders informed about how your organization is using the Web. Ask them to visit it, or print out the home page for them, so they can refer to it in discussions with employees and outside investors, customers and partners.
January 11, 2005 in award winning magazine, award winning newsletter, Blogs, Building B2B Relationships, Business publications, CMO, Company newsletters, Company publication, Corporate newsletter | Permalink | Comments (0)
Newsletter sample: it's comment time
Posted on January 11, 2005 by Sarah Eaton.
"My board of directors thinks our BeTuitive newsletter is fantastic, and we're generating leads!"
Jo Martell
Director, Marketing
Avotus Corp
View sample.
So, how does this look on your newsreader? Comments? I'll link to your blog or your website if you tell me what you think...
0130
January 11, 2005 in award winning magazine, award winning newsletter, Blog Outsourcing, Blogs, Building B2B Relationships, bulk email marketing, business credibility, CMO, company blog, company magazine, Company newsletters | Permalink | Comments (1)