Do you Twitter?

Recent polls at InSights show that about half the people in the room at a local networking event have at least heard of twitter. The other half laugh at the word. You have to admit, at first it sounds kind of silly. For the purpose of this discussion, let’s start with what twitter is:

Now that you’ve seen the video, here are my top five tips to using twitter.

1. Identify the reasons you are going to twitter, once you have a goal, you can work out a twitter plan, otherwise you might use all of your time surfing and playing, without getting closer to your purpose
Are you hoping to connect with friends and family?
Do you want to promote your brand or blog?
Do you want to meet new people?
Use it for netwokring?
Keep tabs on your brand, image, or company?

All of the above, and more, are great reasons and uses for twitter.

2. Tweet
Jump in with both feet. You will build a great twitter network through your activity. If you post interesting things, people will be inclined to follow you. Share useful information, fun facts, and add some of your personality. That’s what it’s all about! Give people a reason to follow you. Be interesting, not overly shamlessly self promoting.

3. Follow other Twitter users. Follow people because of their interesing posts. Target conversations near you if you are looking to grow in your geographic area. Expand your reach if you have a futher reaching goal.

4. Reply, Retweet, and have those conversations!
Reach out, share information, and let others know that you find them interesting. Asking questions is a great way to get some answers! Respond to others. Use the reply feature or the @username to have those two sided conversations.

5. Practice restraint and Twitter Etiquitte
Avoid spam. Promote content that is interesting. Don’t bring in the band and banners declaring yourself the next best thing since sliced bread. Insert your personality, interests, and yes promote yourself, but do it in balance with everything else. Share other’s links and information. Be the person in the party that listens as well as they talk.

I could go on and on, but would love your opinion. What is your best advice for the next Twitter user?

What I appreciate…

63452603 b3a5b5448d m What I appreciate... 1. _____!!! (you fill in the blank with what you think I’d say!)

2. The community that has embraced the InSights philosophy, and who are willing to share positive energy with others.

3. Reading the book Tribes by Seth Godin and realizing that we’ve got an awesome tribe right here, right now.

4. Finding a moment in time to just be.

5. Freshly falling snow, especially when I can stay inside and look at it from this side of the window.

6. Sunny days.

7. Blogs and discussion posts that make me laugh out loud, smile, or learn something new.

8. The silence that happens when my kids turn in for the night.

9. Finding a great new author who has a series of books to get involved with (I’ve got to include the Amazon Kindle with this list).

10. Blogging and discussion posts at 11:00pm because the internet never sleeps! (and apparently neither do I ;o)

11. Spell check, because it is 11:00 at night!

What’s on your list?

(photo by Walkabout Wolf, @ flickr cc)

Where does inspiration come from?

Where does inspiration come from? Today was another amazing example of how Insights continues to blow my mind. I am sitting here at 10:15 pm still pondering what happened today. There is nothing but possibility in this incredible world I find myself living in!!!
For starters, the day began with our 7am meeting which lead into a few private meetings that focused our energies toward something much larger than we are. At 1pm we started to lay out the marketing program that will revolutionize how things get done. Those of you that choose to be involved will not be disappointed. The first lady is definitely on fire. She has a brilliant mind so get ready! Stay tuned as this concept starts unrolling itself.

(photo by ocean.flynn @ Flickr CC)

What is advertising?

Marketing and advertising seem to be words that are used in conjunction, and often mistakenly in place of one another. I would define advertising as the putting of message about a product or service out in front of those individuals that you think might have a desire to buy the product.
Advertising can be further defined as relatively non-personal in nature. Marketing could be considered a more personal, relationship building approach.
The role of advertising in today’s business is important, but is changing. With the addition of technology to the market place, especially on the internet, the rules that existed, I feel, are being re-written at every turn. The ability to get a message out to the public exists. What once took huge ad campaigns and budgets can be twittered and turn viral in an instant. The new mix includes both advertising and marketing simultaneously, with even more technology.
The options available for businesses today are almost impossible to fully comprehend. The internet, you tube, twitter, radio, print, television, search engines, and more. A target audience for a product, service, or idea can be defined and found in all of these areas. The pricing structure that existed to get a message out has grown, and gotten smaller, all at the same time depending on the media and the message used. Online technology such as twitter has the ability to get the message spread even more quickly and widespread than any large campaign.
With so many choices, companies and service providers have incredible option and opportunity. It is important to take the time to find out where to put the time needed to share messages, and continue to develop campaigns that take advantage of the media available.

Why would I join InSights?

Just over a year ago, the idea for the InSights Group was created. Without a road map, clear blueprint, or major plan, this place has really come together. We still have such a unique blend of benefits, it’s often hard to sum it up in a simple sentence, or simple tagline. Today we were pondering the question of how to explain to the world what happens here at InSights. Somehow I found myself humming the Cheers theme song. I believe InSights is a collective of great positive energy, where everyone knows your name, and they are always glad you came.

So I’d like to pose this question to you. Why did you, or why would you join InSights? What are you looking for that our “tribe” can help you find? What are you seeking, and what are you finding with InSights?

Networking Opens Doors and Creates Opportunity-Online and In Person!

Today I participated in a presentation and panel discussion of the benefits of using social online media for business. Thanks to David Haslam, Daninelle Zhu, and Brenda Meller for putting together a great presentation that was featured at the TLI Meeting @ U of M, Dearborn Campus today. Danielle talked about using Twitter, Brenda educated on Linked-In, and I got one of my favorite topics, Facebook!

I would not have had the opportunity to speak on the subject today in front of a new audience, if it weren't for the connections that I have been able to create through networking, both off and online.
I also connected with a woman today featured in Gary Vaynerchuck's (Wine Expert, Video Blogger) keynote speech that I watched last week. I somehow found her twitter account, clicked follow, and got a direct message back about her 100,000 worldwide hugs campaign that I had read about last week. The world is getting smaller, and we are getting more connected. This technology is here to stay.

Can you please help us spread the message that there is a way to connect locally (when I say locally, I would include southeastern lower Michigan) through our InSights Group website? Take a quick moment to email someone you know, the instructions are to visit www.InSights-Group.com and Click Connect to create a free profile. Who do you know that may benefit from making connections with our amazing community here in Livingston County? We'd love to get every local business profiled on our website, and continue to create awesome connections, great opportunities, and more positive energy flowing through! The online community is free, and it opens doors like you can't imagine!

As an aside, I am teaching the next web training @ InSights on Monday, 1/26 from 1:30 pm - 3:30 pm. The cost is $20, or free if you have your golden ticket from our anniversary celebration.

My final request for today, please share your networking stories? Who have you met, or who have you connected with through both on and offline networking? I'd love to hear, and perhaps incorporate your stories into some of my teaching opportunities.

Will you help send a student to Europe?

jesse c Will you help send a student to Europe? A local (Hartland) student is looking for help on her journey to be a member of the student ambassador program People to People, to visit Europe. Jesse was selected by teachers and nominated for this honor. She needs to raise $7,000 to go, and has decided to do this fundraising on her own, and with the help of local businesses. InSights Group has offered to donate space so that Jesse can put together an auction to raise money to help her on her way.

She is looking for any donations of goods for a benefit auction. This can include unwanted items laying around that could be turned into money? These items could be large or small. (furniture, collectibles, antiques, knick knacks, tools, sporting items, jewelry, toys, outdoor items, etc) We have volunteers that will gladly pick up items or they can be dropped off at the InSights building. Just think of how you can save on some clean out expenses and have someone else get rid of the extras!

Now, a little about Jesse: Jesse is a great student, very dedicated, and generally an awesome kid. She will be a beacon of light representing change coming to the USA. She set out on this journey to raise $7000.00 to make the trip happen. She has currently raised just over $2000.00. She has decided to blog about her experience, from the decision to raise the money, through her visit to Europe. I (Al Curtis, Jesse’s dad) promised to provide her oppurtunities but not to provide money. She stepped up to the challenge and has recruited an auctioneer to donate his time, some items, advertise on his website and help her realize this awesome dream. Most adults today are to fearful to even attempt something that may at first glance seem out of reach, and here she is doing it.

The auction is a Valentines day themed auction and will take place on February 13th at 7pm at the Insights facility. Donations of money or items, both big and small will be greatly appreciated. Also, any other ideas for fund raising would be helpful. Her blog is www.sendjesse2europe.blogspot.com We’ve also set up a donation center for anyone who would like to contribute, at any level, your contribution is appreciated

Working amidst networking opportunities. How do you find the balance?

We had a day full of networking opportunities and meetings at InSights today, and in Ann Arbor as we attended the ACE ’09 Entrepreneur event, then travelled back to Brighton to wrap up the day with a Toastmasters meeting. I overheard a conversation from a woman who was wondering when she would have time to get any work done. Interesting question, considering I have the same dilemma. So, here we are late at night and I am writing a blog post, twittering, and updating my facebook account. Where does the balance come in to the in person social activites that are so important for growing our contact spheres? Does anyone have any advice on their strategy and how to keep it all simple?

Marketing Mix Tic Tac Toe Style

We’ve got a really cool model to follow for marketing a business in 2009. I’ve coined in Marketing Tic Tac Toe. It’s a easy way to at a glance monitor what activies someone should be involved in for marketing this year. Take for instance the thought that so many businesses spend all of their time targeting new customers. Tic Tac Toe breaks down marketing efforts into three categories, personal, business and the universe. Sure, you should be looking to connect with new clients. What about your existing clients that are your absolute best source of repeat business and word of mouth marketing? How will you market to them? Tune in for upcoming installments of the Marketing Tic Tac Toe system, and please share with me, what’s your favorite marketing activity and why? Where do you find the most benefit? What would you like to avoid, or change so it would be an easier challenge? Where are you in terms of marketing your business?

Tribes-where are you?

Amazon.com Widgets

I just read an incredibly awesome book by Seth Godin, Tribes. I read this in about 50 minutes. Cover to cover. Yes, a bit of speed reading was involved. Did this all when I was walking 4.0mph on the treadmill at the gym. Walking at the gym is usually a pretty boring time for me, unless I plug in my headphones and watch TV. I picked up Tribes today and started to read. And then read more. And finally couldn’t put it down. Turns out it is a pretty good way to pass the time at the gym, and easy to hold on to. The book’s not that thick.

Tribes deals with leadership, creativity, new ideas, and the willingness to get it wrong some times. On page 119 Godin talks about getting people to come along with your idea. You will not get the leaders of the other side of the opinion to join you. You need to find the seekers. I think that’s just what we’ve found at InSights…the seekers. We want people to hang around who are looking for more, challenging what is, and challenging us in thoughts and opinions. We also want positive people who are open to change and new directions. Wanting all of this has produced it. From day one, Al and I have had faith that what we were doing people would want and need. Faith. That’s it. No plan, no scheme, no 400 page business plan outlining how to get it done. Faith.

Read the book. On Faith. Let me know if you are as encouraged as I am.