Facebook Profile Makeover-Darin R. McClure

November 30, 2007

By: Shama Hyder

Last week, I announced that I would be doing one Facebook profile makeover a week. And already, the responses are pouring in. Our first volunteer is Darin McClure.

  • First and foremost, always put your website address UP TOP.  You are after all using Facebook to promote and build a brand right? It may not be the only reason, but that’s the reason we are working on sprucing up these profiles- Better publicity! Put it in your contact information right after your name. Facebook allows you to easily drag and drop "pieces" in your profile. I missed the contact information completely the first time I saw the profile.
  • Personally, I would re-think the profile picture if you are trying to project a professional image. A Facebook profile really perpetuates your personal brand. Is the image a good reflection of your personal brand?
  • Good job putting up the twitter feed. That helps you keep your content fresh and saves time when juggling social networks.
  • Put up some personal information. It doesn’t have to be intimate information, but just something that tells the world who you are. I have no clue what activities you are interested in. You state that you want to meet people for networking, but how does anyone know who you want to network with OR better yet-if they should be networking with you. What do you have to offer?
  • You currently have no virtual pets. Remove the box taking up space or adopt a virtual pet…keeping in mind that even a virtual pet is a reflection of you and your personal brand. ; )
  •  When I click on your employer website, it takes me back to your profile badge. You may have to add "http://" for it to link directly to your employer site.

Overall, good job on creating a fun profile, but there is room to leverage the profile to better brand yourself. I look forward to hearing everyone else’s thoughts as well-so feel free to leave comments that may help Darin!

Posted by Shama | Filed Under Marketing Tools for Your Service Business, Social Media Marketing | 6 Comments 

Now Is Gone- A Must Read for 2007

November 29, 2007

By: Shama Hyder

I have two vices- books and good food. Due to my first vice, I have read over 200 books this year alone. And one book that really stands out in my mind is Now Is Gone by Geoff Livingston and Brian Solis.

The book is a primer on New Media and serves as a guide into the fast changing world of media for the average business owner. While it won’t show you how to create a strategy, it will explain why it is crucial that you pay attention to the current changes, because truly…now is gone.

Here are the main take-aways-

  • Two-Way communication is the only way to inspire trust and gain credibility with clients. You have to be open to feedback, and you have to interact with your customers.
  • You can’t fake it. If you don’t care about your clients and try to pull one over…well, you can’t. If you try, you will not be in the marketplace for long.
  • Community- build it, value it, and learn from it. They could have named the book "Engaging Your People"-and it would have worked just as well. (But, Now Is Gone does sound cooler.)
  • Make it easy for your people to give you feedback and interact with you. If you pretend to have an open door policy you will fail. The solution-actually have an open door policy.
  • Honesty, integrity, and ethics have always mattered. But now, you can’t pull one over on the people.
  • Authenticity is king.

Bravo Geoff and Brian!  If you would like to grab your own copy (highly recommended), you can find this book listed on the left side bar of this page.

Posted by Shama | Filed Under Book Reviews | 3 Comments 

Who Is your Ideal Client?

November 28, 2007

By- Shama Hyder

question mark, clients, perfect clientHow well can you define your perfect client?

Use the following questions to see how well you can define your ideal clients. It may be harder than you think!

Who-

  • Are they male or female or both?
  • What is their age?
  • What does their family background look like?

What-

  • What is their occupation?
  • What are their hobbies?
  • What is their greatest fear? (Kudos if you can answer this one!)
  • What is their greatest need?

When-

  • When do they realize they need your services?  (Example-when things are really bad or when they want to sustain growth?)
  • When are they sold on a service? (Example-after thorough research or after listening to friends?)
  • When do they say yes? (What does it take to get them to yes?)

Where-

  • Where do they live?
  • Does it matter where they live?
  • Where do they look for information?
  • Where do they love to hang out? (Example-bars? bookstores? tech expos? online social networks?)

Which-

  • Which is probably their favorite genre of movies? books?
  • Which are they more likely to choose-
    • Coffee or Green Tea?
    • Whole Foods or Walmart?
    • Yoga or Hip-Hop?
    • Coco-Puffs or Cheerios?
    • Apartment or Home?
    • New York or Kansas?

How-

  • How open are they to getting help when they need it?
  • How do they think? (Example-logically, emotionally, or a bit of both?)
  • How do they learn best? (Are they visual, auditory, or kinesthetic learners?)
  • How do they rationalize purchases? (Before, during, or after?)
  • How do they seek you out? (Online? Networking?)

These are some very in-depth questions, and while you may not have the answers to all of them, you should be able to to form a detailed picture of your ideal client in your mind.

Posted by Shama | Filed Under Business School in a Box, Managing Your Business, Marketing Tools for Your Service Business | 2 Comments 

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