April 17, 2008
When I started to look at the people around me who have built successful personal brands, one thing is apparent. They are great at building personal relationships.
Online personal branding is a bit more tricky. It’s harder to build a personal relationship online. Relationships online take more repetition, more pinging, and cultivating. Joining Twitter was a good start for me as it gives those on the web a way to get to know me as a person rather than some distant blogger.
I’m looking for ideas that help build those connections. Videos might be a good start as they give you a visual and audio representation of who I am. Done right, and they can help build a brand and connection. Anyone else have ideas?
April 16, 2008
Last month at SXSW, I met Andy Baio, founder of Upcoming. He told me about all the great benefits of Twitter and how I had to be on it. I was SO skeptical. Why would you or anyone else care what other people were doing at any given moment?
Andy gave me a quick demo of how it worked and it really clicked. At SXSW, thousands of tech-junkies using Twitter were updating their statuses on where the hottest parties were, who was speaking where, and even updating the Mark Zuckerberg debacle as it was going down. I was very impressed and told myself I’d join when I found the time.
I’ve found the time now and have already officially started to send Twits. Is that what it’s called? Either way, once I get the lingo down, I’m sure it will be helpful for Personal Branding and really giving people the opportunity to get to know me on a much deeper and personal level.
April 14, 2008
In sales, it’s very important to know how to get someone to respond to your email. In fact, I think we could all use some advice on how to construct a proper email in order to get a good response. I’ve learned that there are a few essential rules to follow to get a good responses.
1. Have an interesting, relevant, and provoking subject line. My favorite subject lines are ones that ask the recipient a question. Anybody who keeps in regular contact with me is probably familiar with the subject lines “Connecting?”, “Touching Base?”, and “Available on 4/21?”. I like these because the recipient knows the purpose of the email without having to read it. When this is the case, people are more likely to open your email and more likely to respond, because their call to action is very clear.
2. Be brief. If you are sending an email with the hope of getting a response, you should say hi, give a quick update, and get to the point of why you’re emailing. People receive hundreds of emails a day. If you get to the point, people will reward you.
3. Be Persistent. People’s lives are just as hectic as yours. Most of the time, if you don’t get a response, it’s not because people hate you–they’re probably genuinely busy. Be pleasantly persistent and make yourself convenient. I’ve been thanked countless times for keeping on people and making sure we’re making progress.
Follow these simple rules and watch how things get accomplished more efficiently for you.
April 2, 2008
My football coach in High School used to preach that the way we practiced was the way we’d play in games. Football taught me a great deal about discipline and work ethic, and it certainly taught me about preparation. While I don’t play football anymore, I do give presentations, speak at meetings, meet new people, etc. The main thing I’ve learned about preparation is that Preparation=Confidence.
I wanted to share a few lessons my football coaches taught me that can help you prepare as well. They all boost your confidence and help you succeed when you need to most.
1. Know your plays: Know what you’re going to do and how you’re going to do it. If you’re giving a speech, know what you’re going to say and how you’re going to deliver it.
2. Learn the big picture: In football, things constantly change. If you stick too close to what you prepared for, you might get burned. Get used to the unpredictable.
3. Know your opponent: Who’s attending your meeting? What questions do you think you’ll be asked in your presentation? Know what’s going to happen before it does, and you will succeed.
4. Relax…but keep focused: The best athletes and speakers are relaxed. Notice how the best athletes always have a sense of composure. Their bodies are almost limp because they are relaxed, focused, and confident.
5. Don’t be afraid to win: If you stay too rigid, you won’t be able to do anything amazing. Don’t be afraid of your audience or your opponent. Be flexible and allow yourself to make a game changing play.
Follow the coach’s advice and we can get you to deliver better than you could have ever expected. Know what you’re going to do and be confident doing it.
March 27, 2008
When I started my second job out of college, Brett Hurt, the CEO and Founder of Bazaarvoice recommended I read Call To Action by Jeffrey and Bryan Eisenberg. He lent me the book from his personal collection and yet I didn’t read it. In fact, it took me almost a year to even open the book cover. It collected dust and wasn’t even used as a paper weight.
It took me two years to actually read the book, but after reading it, I immediately understood WHY he wanted me to read it. In short, he thought I would benefit immensely from it. He knew I was new to the e-commerce industry, and Call To Action is a great introduction into the terminology and mind-set of e-commerce executives.
I still don’t know why it took me so long to read the book, after all, I tend to read at least a book a week. It only dawned on me recently after reading Winning, by Jack Welch that a recommendation is given for a good reason. The person who gives the recommendation, does so because a) they thought you’d benefit from it, and b) they thought you’d enjoy it. I was reminded again by that because David Cohen recently recommended I read Not Quite What I Was Planning: Six-Word Memoirs by Writers Famous and Obscure - Larry Smith.
Well, it’s officially in my Amazon shopping cart, and I will give it a read. I’m sure I will enjoy it.
