Has your business tweeted, linked or liked yet?

I confess I can be slower than most but I am still an early adopter of new ideas, especially social media. I know there are folks still farther down the line than I am even...If you and your business have not embraced social media, NOW if the time for Revolution. Authors Jay Baer and Amber Naslund have written a book called the Now Revolution and listed 7 ways you can change how you do business or suffer the consequences.

Amplify’d from nowrevolutionbook.com

The social web has changed the way we do business forever.

The future of your company is not in measured, considered responses and carefully planned initiatives. Business today is about near-instantaneous response. About doing the best you can with extremely limited information. About every customer being a reporter, and every reporter being a customer. About winning and losing customers in real-time, every second of every day. About a monumental increase in the findable commentary about our companies.

Engineer a New Bedrock: Strip away silos and overgrown business process, and create a culture of NOW

Find Talent You Can Trust: Hire and empower a new type of employee who is adept at pattern recognition, human relations, and immediate analysis

Organize Your Armies: Assemble internal teams for maximum external impact, and empower every employee as a marketer, even if they aren’t

Answer the New Telephone: Listen at the point of need and answer the new calls your customers are making

Emphasize Response-Ability: Travel the Humanization Highway, and respond effectively and persuasively to customer inquiries

Build a Fire Extinguisher: Plan for, find and manage real-time crises

Make a Calculator: Redesign success metrics in a business world that’s increasingly instantaneous Read more at nowrevolutionbook.com

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15 guidelines for trend watching...

clipped from trendwatching.com

Let's face it, the only thing that separates you—passionate CEO, marketer, entrepreneur—from being in the know, is the time that must be devoted to tracking and applying trend content.
And yet, when we ask professionals if and how they spot and apply trends, we're told they're still having a hard time getting a handle on the basics.
So here are 15 trend watching tips, some practical, some more contextual, for you to run with today:

1. Know why you're tracking trends

1. Don’t get your trends mixed up

1. Know a fad when you see (or smell) one

1. Be (very) curious

1. Don’t apply all trends to all people

1. Have a Point of View

1. Benefit from an unprecedented abundance of resources

1. Name your trends

1. Build your Trend Framework

1. Start a Trend Group (even if it’s just you)

1. Secure senior backing or be doomed

1. Don't worry about timing or life cycles or regional suitability or...

1. Apply, apply, apply

1. Have some fun

1. Let others do some of the work for you in 2011

  

3 Big Lies About Networking...

 OK, I don't know if these are really the three biggest lies or not but they are frequent excuses heard from myself and other people. What makes them not true or are they true? You tell me...click on the comment link or twitter me a reply @thirstyfishinfo

Amplify’d from www.entrepreneur.com

Think about the most successful people you know. What's one thing they have in common?

They have mastered the art and science of networking, and business flows to them almost as a matter of course.

Before you can commit yourself to the task of building a healthy network, you probably need to overcome at least one of these three major networking misconceptions.

1. "I can’t network if I'm not an outgoing person."

2. "Person-to-person referral business is old-fashioned."

3. "Networking is not a hard science. Its return on investment can’t be measured."Read more at www.entrepreneur.com

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Social media "chicken and the egg". Which comes first?

I liked this post as it reminds us all that social media is fun and it is work. I get a lot of complaints that folks don't have the time or interest to get a twitter account. Well, you don't have to...unless you don't want an audience. Then there is that thing about saying something that someone actually wants to hear. That is where the real work (or the egg) comes in. Thirsty fish thoughts? Let's hear them.

Amplify’d from www.convinceandconvert.com

There are many ways social media differs from traditional marketing. It’s approachable and human. It’s a two-way dialog, rather than unilateral declarations. It treats the customer as a teammate, rather than a target.

But there’s another big difference. In social media, the audience comes after the message, not before.

Thus, there are really no shortcuts in social media

Nobody ever promised social media was easy, just that it was fun, and effective.Read more at www.convinceandconvert.com

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How much influence do you have?

Maybe a better question would be how do you get it but as you will read below, that is not an easy answer. Of course, measuring it isn't easy either. What we do know is that influence is essential for any type of leadership or business success. What about relationships, like the intimate kind?

Amplify’d from www.brasstackthinking.com

Influence is simple… which makes it complicated.

When we talk about influence, and particularly when we talk about measuring it, we have to define our terms…and know the limits.

Influence is contextual.

Someone writes a post. Someone else retweets it. Another person sees the retweet, reads the post, and writes a comment. Still another person finds the post on his own and then follows the commenter’s advice, to the benefit of hundreds of others.

Influence is the product of reach and authority.

To influence the actions of others, you have to have access to them—and they have to perceive you to have some level of authority, either over them or in an area of expertise they value

(Most) Influence is invisible. Read more at www.brasstackthinking.com

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Can artist benefit from social media?

In other words, can you make any sales of your artwork using social media? The answer is YES...

Amplify’d from www.artprintissues.com

There is undeniable demonstrable value in social media for artists and other entrepreneurs.

Social media is far more than the ubiquitous Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn mentions. It includes blogging, publishing. networking, commenting, photo sharing, and more.

Working smarter is far more effective than working harder

Here are a few art marketing / social media suggestions

Look for groups and people where you might find potential collectors. Being in a bunch of groups with other artists may help you gain career or business insights, but not collectors. Limit the amount of time you spend posting to family, friends and old high school chums. When you do, find creative ways to remind them your art is for sale.

Get a tool like Hootsuite or Tweetdeck that will allow you to write a bunch posts that are set to publish at different times. Limit the amount of time you spend on social media. Don't sit there with it on all day long. It will suck your time and deplete your energy.

Don't try to work too many social media venues at one time

Make sure you do everything you can to get the email address of every potential collector you encounterRead more at www.artprintissues.com

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What is the H.E.A.R.T. of Social Media?

I find that using social media is a very simple process. This may not be true for everyone however. Here is a simple formula to help anyone get to the HEART of the mattter...

Amplify’d from dannybrown.me

So how do you keep up and make sure you’re not the one left in the social media wastepaper bin? How about getting to the HEART of social media?

Hear what’s being said

Engage the conversation

Acclimatize to your new surroundings

Reach outside your core audience

Transparency is key

Most happy endings come from following your heart – why should it be any different for social media? Read more at dannybrown.me

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What would you do with more money?

According to Guy Kawasaki, you would do poorer business. That is right: more money makes for less quality. He gives 6 logical reasons why...read on and share your thirsty fish thoughts in return.

clipped from www.openforum.com Many entrepreneurs believe that the lack of capital is their primary problem. If only they had a fat bank balance, they could kick butt. As a venture capitalist, I’ve seen what happens when companies raise substantial capital. It’s not pretty—in fact, my theory is that too much money is worse than too little. Here’s why. Expenses expand to the level of funding Money creates a false sense of security Money makes companies hire “proven” people Money makes companies buy people with salaries Money causes dependence on experts and vendors Money makes entrepreneurship look like a serial process

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What's the point?

I have said it before and I will say it again: "I love the way Seth Godin thinks!" He is truly a Thirsty Fish Thinker. Read on and leave a comment/thought or two yourself.

clipped from sethgodin.typepad.com An idea turns into a meeting and then it turns into a project. People get brought along, there's free donuts, there's a whiteboard and even a conference call. It feels like you're doing the work, but at some point, hopefully, someone asks, "what's the point of this?" Is it worth doing? Compared to everything else we could be investing (don't say 'spending') our time on, is this the scariest, most likely to pay off, most important or the best long-term endeavor? Or are we just doing it because no one had the guts along the way to say STOP. Are you doing work worth doing, or are you just doing your job?

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3 Steps to Simple Blogging Everyday!

I found this article by Chris Brogan very helpful and convicting. He outlines in 3 steps the process he uses when he blogs - and he blogs a lot! That last part is what convicted me. Some would say I blog a lot but actually I don't. I should and that is what convicts me. Review his thoughts and share yours...

clipped from www.chrisbrogan.com Let’s go through the formula: Step 1: Decide WHAT the Post Should DO for You To get a call to action. To attract business. To promote someone else. To get links and bookmarks and reblogs. To get a conversation started. Step 2: How Can I Be Helpful? tips and advice and ideas that you can use for yourself. Step 3: The Actual Writing start with a headline find a picture on Flickr under their Creative Commons area My first paragraph is always a personable lead-in, usually with a question

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Classic Marketing Techniques to Increase Conversions

Sometimes the best things are the oldest and simplest things. Read some of the old-fashioned sales ideas below. They have worked for generations and they will work for you to help you increase conversions on your website or with your product/service.

clipped from www.wilsonweb.com But when it comes to your sales pages and most landing pages, some good, old-fashioned sales techniques still apply. Here are some of the classics: Urgency. Give people a legitimate reason to buy immediately. Offer ends soon etc. Scarcity. Let people know that supplies are limited (if they are). New. People always pay a little extra attention to something that's new. Free. An old one, but a good one. Is there something free that you can include with the purchase? Save. People love to save money. Risk-free. People hate to take risks, particularly when buying from an online company they don't know very well. Take a look at your current sales pages, whether you are making a direct sale, generating a lead, asking for a registration or selling a subscription. Try adding one technique at a time. Try bundling two or three. Then track the results until you have maximized your conversion rates for the page.

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Should you have a mission or a mantra?

age via Wikipedia

According to Guy Kawasaki, your mission statement should be only a few words and everyone in your organization should be able to chant it over and over again. This really hit home for me as I am in the middle of helping my company with a new vision of our mission statement. Can you chant yours? What is it, if so? Tweet us @thirstyfishinfo or leave a comment.

clipped from blog.guykawasaki.com I give up trying to get people to create short, different, and meaningful mission statements, so go ahead and spend the $25,000 for the offsite, facilitator, and consultants to create one. However, you should also create a mantra for your organization. A mantra is three or four words long. Tops. Its purpose is to help employees truly understand why the organization exists. If I were the CEO of Wendy’s, I would establish a corporate mantra of “healthy fast food.” End of story. Here are more examples of corporate mantras to inspire you: Federal Express: “Peace of mind” Nike: “Authentic athletic performance” Target: “Democratize design” Mary Kay “Enriching women’s lives” The ultimate test for a mantra (or mission statement) is if your telephone operators (Trixie and Biff) can tell you what it is. If they can, then you’re onto something meaningful and memorable. If they can’t, then, well, it sucks.

Where and when (and with whom) do you do GREAT work?

I try to read a little bit each week about some new ideas in my field of expertise. I also couldn't live with out my podcasts in a number of different areas to stimulate thinking. How about you?

clipped from www.entrepreneur.com Whatever you're making, whatever services you offer, whatever you're selling, everything you do falls into one of three categories: Bad Work is the work that wastes time, slows things down and sucks the spirit dry. It's bureaucracy, complexity and paperwork. Good Work is what most of us do most of the time. It's comfortable, familiar and the heart of our business. As entrepreneurs, good work is our economic engine. It's that reliable product or service we produce for our customers, all with a profit margin that works. Great Work is the flame that burns inside most entrepreneurs, the work that lights us up and excites us. It's the work we care most about, that stretches and challenges us. It's work that has meaning for us and creates impact. So how do you manage the busywork so you can do less good work and more great work? Here are two simple and powerful tips: Begin with the Great set aside for great work Find Great Work Allies find people who are extraordinary

How do you use social media?

Cover via Amazon

Chris Brogan is the author of Trust Agents and a great pragmatist when it comes to social media uses. Here's a great bit of how to make social media cool and use it for some great power business tools. What do you do with social media sites like twitter, linkedin, myspace or facebook that is cool?

clipped from www.chrisbrogan.com Social media are a bunch of tools. They let us see things a bit differently. They empowered new ways of working together. But they’re just the tools. When this all gets cool is when we start really turning this stuff on our own passion projects, on our bigger goals, on what COULD happen. Start a public list of Twitter accounts from local businesses. Point everyone in your community to it. Start small mastermind groups on Google Wave (I have an incredible group going. Very small. Very useful.) Donate four hours a week to a charity, giving them more promotion and exposure for their causes, equipping them with more ways to find what they need. Connect to 10 people every day. Make it a blend of 5 people you’ve been in touch with, and 5 people you need to stay fresh with. Ask for nothing. Offer everything. ( Tim Sanders does this well.) Give your local school teachers or library a free class on how to use the tools for their projects.

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