Apr 14
Love0

On Writing, Blocks, and Pushing through the Pain

By Uncategorized

I don’t get writer’s block. I know people do, but that’s not ever been a problem for me. Sometimes I’m paralyzed in the writing process because there are topics about which I want to write, but can’t, due to confidentiality issues, or inappropriateness or the fact that it’s just not blogworthy. That doesn’t happen often either, but sometimes what’s weighing heaviest on my mind is exactly what I can’t share online.

Today I have a client situation that is bothering me. It will work out, I’m sure, but when I’m concerned about a client’s success or when I feel they are at risk, that overtakes the focus of anything else.

The other day I was headed to my umpteenmillionth physical therapy appointment and subsequent workout and a friend reminded me to “push through the pain.” I did, and have been, over and over.

Pushing through the pain is beginning to reap rewards — no one said it would be easy; we’re not pretending it doesn’t hurt, here (my knee lacks the appropriate amount of cartilage and grinds upon every weight-bearing movement.) I am working to strengthen what’s above and around it, to release the pressure, and lessen the grind.

So today I’m thinking about my knee, and the physical work I’m enduring, in an effort to distract myself from my client worry (about which I can do little at the moment). I’m thinking about how even with client work sometimes we have to push through the pain; about how sometimes focusing on the other work, work that surrounds the particular issue, strengthening it, flexing those muscles, may help the situation that at the moment, seems quite impossible.

I can’t write about what’s on my mind, but I can write about the block, and getting through it.

Apr 12
Love0

Dear CEO: Letters to the Top on Marketing, Social Media and Building Community

By Social Media

The following is a letter I contributed to a 32-author book pulled together and published by my friends at Arment Dietrich. The book is called Dear CEO and provides advice to the top from business leaders who are experts on vision, culture, community and integration. It was my honor to be included in this group. To buy the full book, please visit http://www.spinsucks.com/webinars/


Dear CEO,

There‘s something you‘ve been hoping you could continue to ignore. Year after year the time to invest in establishing your role in the social web has just not existed. Now you may be finding you‘re out of date, that all those tools you were just starting to understand have morphed and changed and now 2011 looks overwhelming to you.

Don’t let another year pass with you out of the social loop.

There are a few, simple activities you can do that will get you connected and engaged to an acceptable level for a CEO. If you‘re not brave enough to investigate it on your own, hire someone to coach you through these (usually a half or possibly a whole day immersed in social media startup should do the trick).

Start using a feed reader such as Google Reader. At a minimum, you should be subscribing to your own company’s blog. You should also be subscribing to blogs and other online content in your industry. Follow the blogs of your team members, to stay informed about what’s going on in the lives of the people you work with; not so much to watchdog what’s being said. Learn how to create feeds to alert you to online mentions of your business, industry news or key people and plug them into the reader as well. Using a feed reader makes reading online content much more efficient – and is something you want others on your team to master; set the example by making it part of your daily routine.

Create a LinkedIn profile and if you already have one, make sure it is 100 percent complete. You are likely the best connected person in your company. Does your online presence reflect that? Your LinkedIn profile is searchable; make sure your profile is what you want others to find. It should include a photo, your complete work history and contact information. Take the time to upload all contacts. Help your business development team by allowing your social network to connect to theirs.

Set up a personal Twitter account with a real photo (not the company logo) and a name that makes sense (your actual name is a good place to start). Your bio should include the company name, your title and keywords that reflect the kind of business you‘re in. We don’t care if you tweet; in fact, don’t if you don’t have anything to say. Please follow people in your industry, your employees and others you find interesting. You can find these people by using a tool like Tweepz or by looking at who your colleagues follow. After you‘ve spent time listening to the Twitter conversation, you might find you have something to say after all.

Give others in your organization the authority to use social media, and therefore build relationships on behalf of the company. Whether you’re blogging, tweeting or doing nothing at all, make sure others in your organization know you endorse their involvement in social media on behalf of the company, and reward them for doing a good job.

Keeping up with the latest in communications is not easy and no one expects you to figure it out on your own. Ask for help when you need it and don‘t be afraid to admit that this is an area where you could use some guidance. There are plenty of resources out there to help you get what you need.

Best of luck,

Marijean Jaggers

President

Jaggers Communications LLC

@Marijean

mjaggers@jaggerscommunications.com

www.jaggerscommunications.com

 

Apr 11
Love0

Whoa — Wednesday Workshop in Waynesboro: Social Networking for Business Growth

By Communications

This Wednesday, I’ll be heading over the mountain to teach a workshop on leveraging your social network for business growth and opportunities.  I hope you’ll be there or you’ll send a friend!

Social Networking for Business Growth

This workshop is for business owners, marketers, entrepreneurs and others responsible for business development.

Participants will:

  • Learn how to develop a professional headline and optimize social profiles
  • Increase social networks through outreach and research
  • Create or update a Google profile, managing the content found when Google search is used to find you or your business
  • Learn ways to establish yourself as a thought leader in your industry.

Date: Wednesday, April 13, 2011

Time: 9:00-11:00 a.m.

Location: WDDI Conference Room, 301 Main Street, Waynesboro, VA

Cost: $59.00

Click here for the WALT registration form or call WALT to register:  (540) 943-4457

 

Apr 11
Love0

Advice for the College Marketing and Communications Majors

By Social Media

I was lucky enough last week to get the chance to Skype in to my friend Ken Mueller’s class at Messiah College in Grantham, Pennsylvania. The class, which Ken, who is the brains behind Inkling Media, developed for the school, is called Marketing 360 and focuses on social media marketing. I got to play long distance guest speaker and address the topic of taking online interaction offline.

I shared several client examples of work that has gone from online social interaction to in person interaction, cementing relationships clients have with their customers. My favorite part of the class, however, was when the students took turns hopping in front of the camera to ask me a question. At the end of class, I asked about the future of the graduating seniors and got to hear that many of them have solid plans; jobs, even! It was fantastic.

Ken asked me to share some advice, which is funny to me sometimes because I forget how long it’s been since I was in college; that these 14 years or so of experience have added up to something. I told the class to write and to read as much as possible and to, above all, be patient in their new roles as junior staffers; that everyone has a few years of paying their dues and they will be no different; that they should take that time to think, build and develop strong portfolios and online profiles.

Afterwards, I kept thinking about that class and the other 20-somethings I know in marketing and communications and the advice I shared with one of them recently. I think the most important idea to think through is your passion. What is it that interests you most? I have a fondness and personal interest in health care and in education — I lean toward clients in these fields and find that my best work gets done in areas where I’m personally engaged. So my advice is this; focus on your passions and the rest will fall into place.

Thanks Ken, and thanks Marketing 360 class! It was great to be part of your evening.

 

 

Apr 07
Love0

Crafting the Invitation to Connect: Five Tips for Connecting Success

By Communications

A few years ago, I received the best invitation to connect on LinkedIn that I have ever received, before or since.

It was so good, in fact, that I kept it, generalized it down and have used it during speaking engagements and presentations as an example of how to invite someone to connect.

Now, in the case of a mass upload of contacts when you’re just getting started, or certain contacts with whom you’re connected a dozen different ways, sometimes the standard, “I’d like to add you to my professional network on LinkedIn” is perfectly OK. But often, it’s not.

If you are connecting to someone new to your network:

  1. Provide context; remind them how you know one another, who your mutual connections are and where you met.
  2. Tell them why you’re interested in connecting.
  3. Let them know what it is you offer, or how your network might be valuable to them.
  4. If the connection has a new position or has a business recently featured in the news, make reference to that.
  5. Familiarize yourself with the contact by looking for updates, common contacts, a blog, a Google profile, on Twitter or other content that will give you some context for the person you’re reaching out to; it may be helpful to know what’s happening with them on the day you conduct your outreach.

Here’s the “sample” invitation to connect that I’ve referred to so often. Take a look, then build your own.

As you may know, I resigned my position as [TITLE & COMPANY]. It was a rich experience and I value the privilege of access to a very high level of thought leadership during my years there.

Recently, I have begun to work with the [COMPANY] to [DETAILS OF JOB AND INDUSTRY] Using “best practice” as a baseline, we are [INFORMATION ABOUT THE COMPANY’S GOALS AND PURSUITS].

As I value our relationship and appreciate the depth of experience you bring to your profession, please join my network so we can stay in touch on this and more.

Warm regards,

Isn’t that just lovely?

I often refer to this message when I want to set just the right tone when reaching out to a new connection. Feel free to adapt for your own needs, and of course, feel free to connect with me, as well.