BeTuitive: company newsletter sample

The BI Marriage: Accuracy with Strategy

Posted on October 17, 2007 by Kevin G.

I was reading a great article today about setting up a solid BI system for mid-to-large sized companies.

Garry Garis, author of the article notes, “You do not get a second chance to be wrong and these companies know that their credibility is vital to sustaining customer relationships and ultimately, profitability.”The foundations of a BI system must be solid if anything is able to be built upon it. The accuracy of information is key.

Being able to effectively leverage information to make better business decisions is a powerful strategy if done correctly. Knowing where you get your information, how it is processed and to who it should go to is only half of the battle. Garis offers some key points on how to ensure you have a solid strategy with your accurate information.

October 17, 2007 in Brand enhancement, build credibility, Building B2B Relationships, Building Customer Community, Building Customer Intuition, business credibility, Business editorial, business magazine, Business Marketing, Business newsletter, Business publications, Business relationships, company newsletter, company newsletter sample, Company newsletters, Company publication, Corporate Blogging, corporate magazine, Corporate newsletter, Corporate publications | Permalink | Comments (3) | TrackBack

Submit Submit Submit

Posted on August 20, 2007 by Kevin G.

A news source that I often link to, DMNews, is in the final stages of accepting submissions for an Email Marketing Guide. If you have the chance, I would recommend taking a look at their site and see if there is anything you could submit.

August 20, 2007 in award winning blog, award winning design, award winning magazine, award winning newsletter, Award winning publications, Brand enhancement, Building B2B Relationships, Building Customer Community, Building Customer Intuition, Business editorial, business magazine, Business Marketing, Business newsletter, Business publications, Business relationships, company blog, company magazine, company newsletter, company newsletter sample, Company newsletters, Company publication, Corporate Blogging | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

A Strike Against the Beast

Posted on February 15, 2007 by Kevin G.

We’ve all heard the story about the little guy scoring one for his team against an impossible opponent. Movies like The Mighty Ducks or Rocky might illustrate this in the most obvious way, but it is rare to find this in the online or technical world. A hacker might be offered a six-figure salary from a major corporation, but that is about it.

Copiepresse, a Belgium copyright protection group, recently won a court battle against Google. It seems unheard of, but Google can do wrong…for some. Google’s providing of news stories with headlines, article snippets, and related pictures initially got them in trouble with the Belgium group back in February 2006. Many of the articles were available only by paid subscriptions to the 18 French-language news journals.

Though Google has lost the battle, it certainly has not lost the war. Often describing court battles as, “business negotiation being done in a courtroom,” Google will continue to contest the verdict as it pushes conventional wisdom on contemporary business practice.

February 15, 2007 in award winning blog, Award winning publications, Blog Outsourcing, Building B2B Relationships, Building Customer Community, Building Customer Intuition, business magazine, Business Marketing, company blog, company magazine, company newsletter sample, Company newsletters, corporate magazine, Corporate newsletter | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

What Can Brown (on white) do For You?

Posted on January 17, 2007 by Kevin G.

I came across an article about the new ad campaign for UPS. Originally harnessing the slogan “What can brown do for you,” the company is looking to express that mentality in a broader way.

Described as the company’s “most integrate communication campaign ever,” the campaign will involve multiple mediums including print, online and television commercials amongst others. The commercial I found below is slightly reminiscent of Apple commercials, if only they decided to use Zach Braff from Scrubs.

The commercial is kept simple and direct, which is refreshing. Bottom line, they aim to make complex shipping seem like a piece of cake. I am convinced, see for yourself.

January 17, 2007 in award winning blog, award winning magazine, Award winning publications, blog publish, Blogs, build credibility, Building Customer Community, bulk email marketing, Business editorial, Business Marketing, Business publications, CMO, company magazine, company newsletter sample, Company publication | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Time for Re-Design in 2007

Posted on January 05, 2007 by Jeff Sanchez.

It's a new year and as it has probably been said many times already, out with the old and in with the new. A fresh year is always a great opportunity to revamp the designs of your publications. As a new year begins, many readers may expect to a see a new format in some of their subscriptions.

Take for instance the revamped Wall Street Journal. NewsDesigner.com gives a taste of the new Journal, which I guess you can say has cut down the fat. It's now slimmed down with narrower columns and added splashes of color. Designer Mario Garcia, responsible for the Journal's new design, gives the eight principles followed for the redesign and many of them can easily be applied to a re-design of any online or print publications:

1. Make it easier for readers to navigate the Journal.
The Journal long has been a pioneer in this
area, with its famous “What’s News” columns
on page one pointing to key stories inside the
paper. But we have introduced new, more visual
guideposts at the top of each section front, and
labeling on every page.

2. Create a hierarchy of stories, so readers know
the relative importance of news. The size of
headlines and the placement of stories within
the architecture of a page should make it clear
to readers what stories matter most, to help
them prioritize their reading.

3. Maintain the best visual traditions of the Journal.
Readers of The Wall Street Journal like the
paper’s traditions—the 70-year-old “What’s
News” columns, the serendipity of an offbeat
feature on the front page, the hand-drawn stipple
portraits. Readers should recognize their
Journal.

4. Remember that Journal readers come to read,
not to look. We wanted to steer readers to the
strong content inside, with new display pages
inside the newspaper to showcase the authoritative,
long-form journalism that people expect
of the Journal.

5. Innovate graphically where improvements can
be made. Today’s Journal features a new, custom
typeface that is easier to read. We have
introduced more art elements throughout the
paper. We use color more to emphasize areas of
importance, but we stuck to a limited palette of
mostly pastel hues.

6. Don’t skimp on good journalism. In an era when
information is often truncated for fast digestion,
the Journal’s trademark Page One stories
are refreshing for their authority, depth and
completeness. We underscored the importance
of those stories by creating a new, daily space
for their continuations and graphics, just before
the opinion pages.

7. Balance long-form stories with secondary readings
and quick story summaries. You will see
new “In Brief” columns on some pages, as well
as what we’re calling “summary boxes,” to amplify
and highlight the main news events and
points of longer stories.

8. Guide readers to the Online Journal—but don’t
overdo it. A large number of the Journal’s print
readers also read the Journal online. But they
don’t want to feel they have to go online to get
“the rest” of a story.

Take a look at the new Journal here.

January 5, 2007 in award winning newsletter, Blogging Tools, build credibility, Building B2B Relationships, Building Customer Intuition, bulk email marketing, Business editorial, Business Marketing, Business relationships, company blog, company newsletter sample, Company publication, corporate magazine, Corporate publications, create a newsletter | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

The Art of the Client Interview

Posted on January 02, 2007 by Kathryn Regina.

An initial sales interview sets the tone for an entire business relationship, and determines what you may or may not be able to do for a client in years to come. Read this Guerrilla Consultant article to learn how to cross over from “salesperson” to “business adviser.” One of the tips: “If you're ever tempted to ask a client, 'what keeps you up at night,' cover your mouth and count to ten.”

The Art of the Client Interview

January 2, 2007 in business credibility, Business editorial, business magazine, Business Marketing, Business newsletter, Business publications, Business relationships, CMO, company blog, company magazine, company newsletter, company newsletter sample, Company newsletters, Company publication, Corporate Blogging | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

And the merry bells keep ringing...

Posted on December 22, 2006 by Sarah Eaton.

It's that time of year again...time for the BeTuitive outing to the post office to spread a little goodwill and cheer.

Check out our experience with Operation Letters to Santa this year (and take in our new online magazine--vs. our former format, the e-newsletter).

And happy holidays!

December 22, 2006 in award winning magazine, Award winning publications, Blogs, Building B2B Relationships, Building Customer Community, business credibility, Business editorial, business magazine, Business Marketing, Business publications, company newsletter sample, Company publication, Corporate Blogging, corporate magazine, create a newsletter | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

A Social Search Engine

Posted on December 20, 2006 by Kevin G.

We all know that Google and Yahoo are the king and queen of internet search engines. They continue to flourish while the competitors struggle to keep their heads above water.

I was conducting research on search engines and found a unique engine with an intriguing edge. Though still in development, Decipho is a new engine that offers a personal aspect to searching. Users can filter search results based on “Shop/Services” or “Research/Info” categories or they can create their own criteria and rank websites with a Social Meter.

Let’s say you did a search and found great website deep within your search results, around the 20th result page. Normally it would be a pain to go through all of those results again to find the specific site and bookmarking websites is not always on peoples’ minds. Users can categorize their searches and rank websites. These results are saved and the website link appears in the right margin whenever that search term is entered.

I can tell there will be a lot more coming from this Social Search Engine.

December 20, 2006 in award winning blog, award winning design, award winning magazine, award winning newsletter, Award winning publications, Blog Outsourcing, blog publish, company newsletter sample, Company newsletters, Company publication, Corporate Blogging, corporate magazine, Corporate newsletter, Corporate publications, create a newsletter | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

What does it take to be a great speaker?

Posted on November 02, 2006 by Sarah Eaton.

If you don't know, you should definitely read my interview with Kristin Arnold, a certified speaking professional (CSP) who sits on the board of the National Speaking Association. She will enlighten you.

tags: Kristin Arnold | Quality Process Consultants, Inc. | speaking skills | National Speaking Association
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November 2, 2006 in audio publication, award winning design, Blog Outsourcing, Brand enhancement, build credibility, Building Customer Community, bulk email marketing, business magazine, Business publications, Business relationships, company magazine, company newsletter sample, Company newsletters, corporate magazine, Corporate publications, create a newsletter | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Speaking…All the Way to the Bank

Posted on October 31, 2006 by Vinnie Lacey.

“My criterion for success is pleasing people who can write checks that clear the bank.”
-Alan Weiss

You can’t get past the preface of Alan Weiss’ Money Talks: How to Make a Million as a Speaker (McGraw-Hill, 1998)—indeed not far beyond the title—and miss the crux of this 200+ page roadmap to the ins and outs of professional speaking. Weiss wants you to know he has made millions as a professional speaker and now, apparently, it’s your turn, too. Dilettantes beware: this book is not for the weak-hearted—nor the daydreamers fancying themselves the next Tony Robbins. While Weiss’ blunt, tongue-in-cheek delivery often comes across too smug for its own good, the content here is all business: the tools, targeted advice and piercing questions to push you head first into a career in public speaking.

In this review I will focus on three “big picture” lessons from Weiss’ marketing and sales techniques, although the book covers everything from developing content to publishing a book to staffing and supporting a business.

Big Lesson #1: Speaking professionally requires a lot of work.

Not surprising news, right?

Turns out the obvious is not so obvious. Weiss makes the distinction that having something to say—even with a superior ability to keep an audience captivated—does not make you a professional speaker. Only a public speaker. The truth is that most “professional” speakers find it difficult to put food on their plates just from speaking. The corollary to this first lesson is that you will expend more effort selling your speaking than actually delivering your lines.

Weiss catalogs several examples of professional speakers—some who have been speaking for many years—desperately trying to improve their business. In most scenarios the problem is not the content of the material, but rather how the individual has been defined.

Like any aspect of sales, speakers can fall into self-destructive attitudes and routines rather easily. Ongoing success means a willingness to do the advance research and constant self-analysis that centers you as a comprehensive solution to your client’s problem. Celebrities sell on name alone—they have it easy. But Weiss details the step by step process to honestly answer: “What do I bring to the table in my buyer’s terms?”

Naturally, then, chapters such as “What is a Professional Speaker?” and “Positioning Yourself in the Field” precede discussions of platform skills. Weiss insists, “The only reason to hire a speaker…is to improve the condition of the audience and, frequently, the organizations which they represent.”

BeTuitive uses the same criteria to develop content for our B2B clients. Great professional speakers, like great custom publications, leave a lasting impact and improve the lives of their audience. Relevancy and end results are everything. In this point lies the theme that Weiss returns to again and again. For all his boisterous opinions and “myth-destroying” contentions, the fundamental message is quite simple, bringing us to…

Big Lesson #2: Craft all aspects of your professional speaking career around value to the customer and sell on value.

Successful businesses and successful salespeople, of course, do this all the time. It’s getting there that’s difficult. In order to drive home this point, Weiss dedicates his first five chapters to identifying the buyer’s objectives, defining your value as a speaker and finding ways to match the two effectively. Particularly helpful are the topics:
• Responding effectively to the question, “What do you speak about?”
• Transitioning content knowledge and process skills into client results
• Leveraging past experiences to adult learning needs
• Determining where your ideal clients “live” (e.g. who has easiest established need, who taps into trends that drive your audience, who knows you exist as a speaker already, etc.)

Only by understanding the professional speaking process as a value-directed venture, Weiss contends, can you actually begin crafting a speech in the first place!

Of those three steps in the sales process, I found Weiss’ approach to defining your value as a speaker the most counterintuitive and challenging–bringing us to our final take-away, reprinted in its entirety for your convenience:

Big Lesson #3: “Define your value in the broadest conceptual terms, studiously avoiding industry, niche, and segment alignment.”

Huh? Isn’t it all about specialization? What happened to meeting exact objectives?

Weiss readily admits that some vehemently disagree with him, but writes, “Experience and circumstances will intelligently narrow [your market] as needed, but that winnowing process is often a gentle erosion around the edges, not a sharp knife slicing a pie into eights. These steps are equally applicable for the neophyte or the veteran.”

At first I had difficulty seeing this advice as anything more than motivational (c’mon champ, lots of people want to hear your spiel—it’s just a matter of getting their attention!) However, I think Weiss’ contention dovetails into his overall message of thinking critically about what you leave behind as a speaker. A value-based definition is broad by its very nature and may open new avenues of potential audience members. You may be capable of doing more than you think.

Weiss’ point may be best summed up: Approach and market as if every person were a potential audience member; specialize your value to the buyer. In other words, enable any buyer to buy from the outset. When building rapport, ask the right questions and position yourself as the solution to your buyer’s specific needs and areas of pain.

Money Talks is an excellent place to start thinking seriously about a career in professional speaking. Experienced speakers looking to elevate their careers can also benefit from Weiss’ bucking of the status quo. Making a living as a speaker is a difficult niche to carve out, delivering a fresh product an even bigger challenge. But the results can be rewarding and—as Weiss would have us remember—quite lucrative.

See you on the circuit.

For more information on Alan Weiss:

Summit Consulting Group

tags: Alan Weiss | Professional Speaking | Custom Publications | Money Talks
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October 31, 2006 in award winning blog, award winning design, award winning magazine, award winning newsletter, Award winning publications, Blog Outsourcing, blog publish, Blogging Tools, Blogs, Brand enhancement, Building B2B Relationships, Building Customer Community, Building Customer Intuition, bulk email marketing, business credibility, Business editorial, business magazine, Business Marketing, CMO, company blog, company magazine, company newsletter, company newsletter sample, Company newsletters, Company publication, Corporate Blogging, corporate magazine, Corporate publications | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

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