16 Golden Nuggets from the Pros

As you know, I recently joined the National Speakers Association, and their Winter Conference was this past weekend. During the event, I wrote down those golden nuggets that those very high powered speakers said. In this funny picture with Brian Tracy I was actually having a conversation with him, and he was smart enough to answer me by looking at the camera! That’s why he is a go-zillionaire and I’m not.

1. “It’s funny how flowers grow out of the dirt sometimes.” Lisa Sasevich was talking about how sometimes we feel we have a lot of nothing, but keep working away, until suddenly, success appears.

2. “Don’t change your act. Change your audience.” Again, a quote from Lisa when she was talking about her dad, Eddie Garson, who is a professional ventriloquist. This was something he used to tell her when she was tempted to change directions in her business.

3. “If you don’t board in the next 18 months, you do not reach the New World.” Love this quote from Brendon Burchard, author of The Millionaire Messenger. He was talking about how the next 18 months are critical to the development of our individual web presence and the ability to proliferate our message. We each need to own our topic online now or someone will take that spot instead.

4. “I don’t think competition. I think choice.” Brendon B, again. Many people feel the same way about others who are in the same business and space as we are. Let’s not view them as competitors. They really aren’t. We are our own unique business. Plus, we’re busy. We buy what’s in front of us. So capture that spot first!

5. “Does this really move the needle for the reader?” (Yes, BB) Is what you are talking about in your blog, ezine, social media posts really making a difference to your reader? If not, then course correct. Don’t just serve out “stuff.” And, continually ask if your work moves your OWN needle, too!

6. Here’s the one that probably impacted me the most. “We need to focus. The average American watches 4 hours of TV per day. Over your lifetime that equates to 13 years, people! The cost to you is over $2 Million in lost wages. And if that money were invested, a way greater sum.” Brendon Burchard was talking about productivity and discipline. He was moving so fast, all my pictures of him are fuzzy! I am vowing to not waste time anymore during the day. Get up and get going.

7. “You’re not marketing to a grandstand. You’re marketing to a moving parade.” This pearl of wisdom is from the superstar Alex Mandossian. Like Lisa’s Dad, he is saying to keep on with what you are doing; get better and better at it. And new prospects and clients are always in the pipeline who haven’t experienced you before. Stay with your message.

8. “What gets measured gets treasured.” This was repeated by Valerie Cade and is pretty simple. If you are want to achieve something, set some goals around it, look at your performance, and measure your performance towards getting there.

9. “Learn to be uncomfortable.” This was one of the first things Lisa Sasevich said to us. If we want to grow we have to be willing to stretch and move way outside of our comfort zone.

10. “Mobile changes everything.” Randy Gage is right. Over half of the visitors to your website or to social media are getting there through their mobile device. If you’re website isn’t mobile ready, make plans to do that soon.

11. “Social media – if you don’t do it, you will be irrelevant.” Wow. A strong and powerful statement from Randy.

12. “If you’re the smartest person in the room, you’re in the wrong room.” This quote was retold by Randy Gage and reminds me to surround myself with rock stars.

13. “Remember, your clients are buying the destination, not the plane.” When creating your marketing materials you need to be talking about the benefits, not the features. Lisa is 100% correct.

14. “I’d rather collect a lead than BE a lead.” Now, this may or may not be true, but Lisa said she had just gotten business cards about 6 months ago and used this phrase as part of her explanation.

15. “A step in the wrong direction is better than staying in one spot all your life. Once you’re moving forward you can correct your course as you go. Your automatic guidance system cannot guide you when you’re standing still.” Maxwell Maltz. This was just a quote on a handout, and it’s really wonderful.

“In social media, it’s not who is talking TO you, it’s who is talking ABOUT you.” Science author Steve Spangler was sharing his failures in social media and this was one big thing he learned on the way to success.

Well, you should have nodded and smiled at least a couple of times while reading these little gems. Feel free to print them out and post above your desk. I know I will.

Amy Kinnaird has over three decades of experience in Marketing with half of that time spent working from her home office. While working at IBM for 15 years, Amy discovered a techie inside herself, a trait she continues to use and cultivate in her own business – UnCommon Sense Marketing. Amy is a Social Media Evangelist, a Marketing Consultant, and a popular speaker based out of Shreveport, Louisiana. Clients find that Amy makes the technical world simple to understand and can find her where Southern Hospitality meets the World of IT, and at just about every local networking event in between! For more information on Amy, visit UnCommonSenseMarketing.

Published on February 8, 2012. Filed under: Business Inspiration Tags: Alex Mandossian, Amy Kinnaird, Brendon Burchard, Lisa Sasevich, marketing materials, Millionaire Messenger, mobile social media, new prospects, Randy Gage, unique business, Valerie Cade • No Comments

7 Great Video Marketing Ideas

Developing marketing ideas that will attract prospects and cultivate clients is one part of my business that I love! Over the last couple of years I’ve been talking to everyone about creating videos. There hasn’t been a business yet that couldn’t benefit from creating videos. Hardly a week (or a day) goes by that I am not tempted to click on a video in Facebook and watch. If you haven’t started using videos for marketing your business, you are missing out on a popular tool.

Now, you may be thinking one of these things:

I don’t know what kind of video to create. (of course that is why you need to continue reading…)
I don’t have access to good video equipment.
I hate to be in front of the camera.

Here’s the good news! You don’t need expensive equipment, I’m going to give you a lot of good ideas, and most of them don’t require you being in front of the camera! Most businesses can create a short video – 30 seconds to no more than 2 minutes – using a low-cost video camera. There are lots in the $175 range. I have a Kodak Zi8 that does a great job. Someone you know may have a Flip camera. Easy to do: Power on, shoot video, upload to YouTube, and post. And honestly, I’m sure a lot of the videos that people create are taken using their smart phone.

Now, you’ve got the camera. Where are the ideas? Here are some of my favorites.

1. Give a tour of your office or location. Let us see what’s going on inside. You might show us the shop where your products are made, or introduce us to your customer support person. If you are a restaurant, how about a peek inside the kitchen. If you are a retail store, show us some of your wares.

2. Interview someone in your office. It’s nice to see and get to know the people you are working with.

3. Interview some of your clients – we’re talking video testimonials. Many would be very happy to oblige. Just ask!

4. Do some before and after videos. This could apply to building a house, style makeovers, personal organizers, or updating a website. Another variation that might fit some clients is explaining how your product works, or applications for your product.

5. FAQ’s are great to create videos for. What do people always ask you? Create a series of videos answering one question in each video.

6. Do regularly scheduled tips. Search for “legal minute” or “marketing tips” or something similar inside YouTube. You will find a lot of people give out tidbits of information in this fashion. If you are a fitness expert, create a video showing the proper way to do each exercise.

7. Do a video blog. This would be just you sitting in front of the camera telling the story or teaching the information in the way that you would have written it down.

Most of those ideas can even keep you off the video if you are not interested in being in them. Find someone else to be in the video if that is an issue. However, there is great power in building relationships if prospects can actually see you. Don’t miss out on that! Another tip is to vary the setting of your videos. One time you might be in your business outfit at your desk. Another time you might be outside on your patio in more casual wear. The viewer is more interested in what they are going to learn from you than what you are wearing or how your hair looks. (Depending on your business, you will have to use good judgement as to how casual you can go. I’m a firm believer in looking presentable at all times…)

Are YOU using videos yet?