Just an update to my May 21 blog post about Microsoft's new search engine. At that time they were using the codename Kumo to refer to their revamped search engine. About a week later it was revealed that the name had been changed to Bing. The revamped search engine is looking to do battle with industry leader Google and second place Yahoo. Ask is still hanging in there and is going after the NASCAR crowd with some interesting tactics this year. My best advice...shop around. Start let's say with Google and type in a search phrase. How many results, how close are they to want you want? Then try that same phrase with Yahoo, Bing, Ask and maybe even Altavista. Then, search for yourself on each. Try variations on your name as well as any screen names you might use. You might be surprised at what comes up. More on that (Digital Reputation) in our next blog post.
In the meantime, which search engine does the job for you?
Welcome
Thursday, June 18, 2009
Monday, June 15, 2009
Is Your Organization Friendly or Welcoming?
Credit to my networking mentor, Debby Peters, as the inspiration for this post. Visit her blog on this same topic.
Several organizations which I am aware of or even belong to are struggling to activate or attain membership. I realize that the economy and everyone's multiple demands on our time play a big part in this equation, but I also got to thinking that the people who are active in an organization, are so for a reason, what is that reason? The group is as much a part of them as they are of it. So how do you develop that enthusiasm in others? Your group needs to be more than friendly, it needs to be welcoming.
To share a story, I won't name names, but my son auditioned for a play with a small, local company about a year ago. Everyone there was very friendly, I even at the spur of the moment auditioned for the parent role in the play with him. We had fun and walked away feeling good. My son did not get the part, which is okay. Now mind you this is not sour grapes, but since the phone call that he did not get the part, we didn't hear from them again. No add to their mail list, call to see if we would be interested in another audition down the road, nothing. I couldn't help but notice on their website that they have several open positions on their board. How many opportunities have they missed for members by not welcoming in those who have shown interest?
According to Debby Peters "friendly means that you smile at me when we meet. You probably also say hello. Welcoming means that a connection is made." So if your group is struggling for members are you just friendly or are you welcoming to both visitors and current members?
What are some reasons you find right now that groups are having trouble with membership? What have you done to combat that?
Several organizations which I am aware of or even belong to are struggling to activate or attain membership. I realize that the economy and everyone's multiple demands on our time play a big part in this equation, but I also got to thinking that the people who are active in an organization, are so for a reason, what is that reason? The group is as much a part of them as they are of it. So how do you develop that enthusiasm in others? Your group needs to be more than friendly, it needs to be welcoming.
To share a story, I won't name names, but my son auditioned for a play with a small, local company about a year ago. Everyone there was very friendly, I even at the spur of the moment auditioned for the parent role in the play with him. We had fun and walked away feeling good. My son did not get the part, which is okay. Now mind you this is not sour grapes, but since the phone call that he did not get the part, we didn't hear from them again. No add to their mail list, call to see if we would be interested in another audition down the road, nothing. I couldn't help but notice on their website that they have several open positions on their board. How many opportunities have they missed for members by not welcoming in those who have shown interest?
According to Debby Peters "friendly means that you smile at me when we meet. You probably also say hello. Welcoming means that a connection is made." So if your group is struggling for members are you just friendly or are you welcoming to both visitors and current members?
What are some reasons you find right now that groups are having trouble with membership? What have you done to combat that?
Friday, May 29, 2009
It's Festival Time, Don't Remove Your Networking Hat
As I sit here debating which night to volunteer my services for the Holland Strawberry Festival, it strikes me that this festival is about more than having fun with the family. At the festival I will see neighbors, parents of my children's friends, business owners and more. So in addition to having fun with the family, the festival is a chance for me to continue to build visibility in the community.
Are you planning on attending an area festival or fair this summer? If so, put it in the framework of a networking event and you may rethink your festival-going strategy.
1. Like any other networking event, make a goal of meeting a certain number of people. Often times festivals and fairs have booths with local businesses. Make it your goal to visit these booths and meet X number of people.
2. Bring your business cards along with you.
3. While you will be dressed more casually than other networking events, keep an eye on what you are wearing and what it says about you.
4. Ditto the above in regard to alcohol consumption. If I am considering purchasing health and wellness products from you, but see you drunk Friday night in the beer garden, that would make me rethink your credibility.
5. Volunteer. If you volunteer to work at the festival it helps with your visibility and can help you establish credibility with the festival committee. If you do volunteer though be absolutely sure you fulfill your commitment. Not showing ruins the credibility you seek to establish.
6. Consider renting a booth, but only if this is your target market. If you have not been to this festival before, you should be able to ask someone from the committee what the basic demographics of the festival goers are. If this is not your target market, don't rent a booth, just go and network and enjoy!
By all means, do not ignore your family. It is about balance. You can still enjoy riding the tilt-a-whirl and eating funnel cakes after you meet your networking goals.
Are you planning on attending an area festival or fair this summer? If so, put it in the framework of a networking event and you may rethink your festival-going strategy.
1. Like any other networking event, make a goal of meeting a certain number of people. Often times festivals and fairs have booths with local businesses. Make it your goal to visit these booths and meet X number of people.
2. Bring your business cards along with you.
3. While you will be dressed more casually than other networking events, keep an eye on what you are wearing and what it says about you.
4. Ditto the above in regard to alcohol consumption. If I am considering purchasing health and wellness products from you, but see you drunk Friday night in the beer garden, that would make me rethink your credibility.
5. Volunteer. If you volunteer to work at the festival it helps with your visibility and can help you establish credibility with the festival committee. If you do volunteer though be absolutely sure you fulfill your commitment. Not showing ruins the credibility you seek to establish.
6. Consider renting a booth, but only if this is your target market. If you have not been to this festival before, you should be able to ask someone from the committee what the basic demographics of the festival goers are. If this is not your target market, don't rent a booth, just go and network and enjoy!
By all means, do not ignore your family. It is about balance. You can still enjoy riding the tilt-a-whirl and eating funnel cakes after you meet your networking goals.
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Is Blogging for You?
You may be wondering in these economic times if you should start a blog. Well my response to you is why? Not meaning to be a smart-alec (although I have been accused of that more than once) I simply want to imply that you need to have a focus prior to beginning your blog. So answer the following questions before jumping in:
1. Who do I want to read this? Current customers? New customers?
2. What do I hope to get out of this? Increased awareness of my brand, more sales?
3. How much time do I have to spend on this?
4. How will I promote it? (cross promote on Twitter, in a newsletter, etc)
5. Do I know other bloggers who will link to mine?
6. How often will I post?
Still not certain? Social Media Breakfast Toledo will be covering this very topic at their June breakfast. Dave Rigotti will be speaking on "Do's and Dont's of Business Blogging". For more information click here.
What blogs do you read regularly? Why do you read them?
1. Who do I want to read this? Current customers? New customers?
2. What do I hope to get out of this? Increased awareness of my brand, more sales?
3. How much time do I have to spend on this?
4. How will I promote it? (cross promote on Twitter, in a newsletter, etc)
5. Do I know other bloggers who will link to mine?
6. How often will I post?
Still not certain? Social Media Breakfast Toledo will be covering this very topic at their June breakfast. Dave Rigotti will be speaking on "Do's and Dont's of Business Blogging". For more information click here.
What blogs do you read regularly? Why do you read them?
Thursday, May 21, 2009
Goodbye Live Search, Hello Kumo
Much buzz in the technology world about what Microsoft will be doing to regain their standing in the search engine world. Today, I found that they are supposedly previewing a new product called "Kumo" at a Wall Street Journal conference next week.
I googled "Kumo" and got a variety of articles. According to CNN, Microsoft is a step behind Yahoo and Google who have already previewed their improvements.
So what does Kumo bring to the table? Early previews show a new panel on the left side of the screen "that breaks searches down into a number of related queries. The results themselves also feature information organized into categories." Enhanced search capabilities on video and images along with a natural language search have also reportedly been added. PC World is reporting "three-column search results page featuring useful tools like related searches" and "a single-session search history for quick backtracking."
For a preview of the new look visit Kara Swisher's Boom Town Blog
If you have tried Kumo let us know. Also, what is your preferred search tool? Do you use Google, Yahoo, Live Search or something else?
I googled "Kumo" and got a variety of articles. According to CNN, Microsoft is a step behind Yahoo and Google who have already previewed their improvements.
So what does Kumo bring to the table? Early previews show a new panel on the left side of the screen "that breaks searches down into a number of related queries. The results themselves also feature information organized into categories." Enhanced search capabilities on video and images along with a natural language search have also reportedly been added. PC World is reporting "three-column search results page featuring useful tools like related searches" and "a single-session search history for quick backtracking."
For a preview of the new look visit Kara Swisher's Boom Town Blog
If you have tried Kumo let us know. Also, what is your preferred search tool? Do you use Google, Yahoo, Live Search or something else?
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