Business Networking - How Do You Make Connections in a Virtual World?

A study on remote work from Xant summarizes its findings in saying,

“Sales teams are facing unique challenges – not only are they working from home, but their customers are too. They are adjusting to remote work, fighting distraction, and also facing an out of sight, out of mind mentality with their leads and potential customers.”

In fact, their research reveals that sales teams are reporting their top challenge right now as the “inability to communicate or connect with customers.”

But salespeople are not alone.

Remember, anyone meeting someone new right now is doing so virtually.

Everyone is in the same boat trying to navigate making virtual connections with new people both professionally and personally. And while some have felt natural, like messaging potential collaborators over social media, others have not, like going on a first date via video call.

Our current normal has changed how we connect with new people. For introverts, this shift has been a welcome change, whereas extroverts have typically found it harder to adapt. However, removing the in-person aspect of making a new connection does not change the reasoning behind connecting in the first place.

Ultimately, the methods to meet new people may have changed, but why we connect is still the same. New introductions require a genuine desire to offer something of value, listening, nurturing the connection, and following-up, whether the relationship is sales-related or not. The people that aim to engage, understand, and build trust will succeed whether they are connecting with other people online or offline.

Topics: Networking Hiring Customer Relationship Management Recruiting Referrals Business Development Professional Development Social Media Inbound Marketing Personal Development

Life is Short, what to do next

The first month of 2020 has been full of all types of news - good, bad, and extraordinary. The recent news about the passing of Kobe Bryant, his daughter, and seven others is sad beyond words. Regardless of whether you are a fan of basketball, you will find Kobe’s principals inspirational and hopefully will help you think more about “what’s next”.

The most important thing is to try and inspire people so that they can be great in whatever they want to do.” - Kobe Bryant

We can do something special today for those we appreciate, to inspire people to be great in whatever they want to do. We have the tools and means to do this, regardless of our location.

Topics: Leadership Business Culture Professional Development Social Media

A Simple Planning Guide for your LinkedIn Profile

Before developing your plan as a CRO, CXO or business owner, or salesperson, it is important to reflect your best self and offer opportunities for others to see “social proof” to show you are who you say you are.

On the one hand, someone who believes they are a VIP and LinkedIn is beneath them may prefer to be invisible, with no information or photo.  On the other hand, those who have a purpose and hope to influence others understand that a platform such as LinkedIn provides an opportunity to share their wealth of thoughts, make recommendations and lead.

Example: Bill Gates is not likely to use LinkedIn as a connection/communication tool, but he regularly posts activities and articles. Over 22 million people follow Bill Gates’s activities. It is true that while not every post will be viewed by his followers, they have said in public “Bill Gates is remarkable, I am interested in learning more and potentially share his posts.”

Topics: Social Media Thought Leadership LinkedIn

Where Does Your Power for Revenue Originate?

Formulating a social media plan has many rushing to hyped up platforms to shout, pose, rant and act if they are celebrities and that others care. Or you have heard and hopefully not said: “We should use social media because our competition does.” This is difficult to accept as a foundation for a strategy and plan.

It’s better to walk alone than with a crowd going in the wrong direction.” 
-  Gandhi

Today I want to share some thoughts about the real power of social media and how it potentially relates to your company, team and revenue growth.

I suspect it will be much different from the noise marketers share. Please note that my focus is to support profitable B2B revenue growth and may not align well with your business.

Topics: Brand Management Strategy Revenue Generation Social Media

LinkedIn Groups are About to Change . . . Again

B2B revenue growth is near impossible without strong relationships. Good relationships lead to more introductions and referrals. The introduction often happens when networking at an event from which a LinkedIn invitation is made. LinkedIn provides a way to connect and communicate without a deep investment and offers professional details you would not have otherwise.

Topics: News B2B Social Media

The Social Media Reality - Feel Good Sizzle but Without the Meat (Value)

Social media is an astounding tool in the new world of media. There is an opportunity to monitor ‘buzz’ (if that matters), make introductions and invitations, appreciate and recognize remarkable, tell a story and use as a customer service tool.

When you want to know the latest about volcanoes in Hawaii or hurricanes in Florida, there is no longer a need to wait for the 5:00 News. Twitter to the rescue, Facebook photos and videos are available. Many are provided by the humans who carry a camera and mini-computer connected to the Internet in their pocket. Government agencies and news companies are catching up and use social media tools to deliver ‘the latest’.

Topics: Brand Management Brand Integrity Social Media

The Reality of What’s What – Branding, Social Media and Humans

A hundred goals (maybe more) exist in the heads of those who are going bigger, conquering the world or changing the community. It can be difficult to line up the goals swirling in their heads. These goals are in the same mind soup, side by side with ‘old truth’ vs ‘new truth’, rumors, advice from future experts, news, big data, and ideas from a bestselling book.  (With potential distractions from ‘competitors’.)

As a result, the goals are not always aligned, and it is tempting to get ‘speed think’, make a decision now to get things done.

Today we want to remind you that ‘It is still a pig”, and a few other observations to keep it real for you about branding, social media and humans.

Topics: Brand Management Strategy Brand Integrity Social Media