Video is one of the most powerful forms of marketing you can use.It has the ability to connect with your customers on an emotional level, not possible with other forms of marketing.With that connection comes the desire to share your content and it’s that sharing that offers you the power and potential to reach previously untapped markets.Video sharing happens when you connect with your viewers on an emotional level. Your story has to resonate with them (that’s why we’ll keep telling you, until we’re blue in the face, that your videos must not be commercials), pull at their heartstrings leaving them feeling compelled to pass your message on to their friends.But don’t just opt for the lame cute kitten video. What you produce must be related to your business if it is to have the desired effect. That’s where great ideas, strong stories and social issues come into play.Aligning your brand with social issues. According to the 2013 Cone Communications Social Study (US based), 83% of respondents said they would like brands that supported social causes. Not only that, but 41% said they have bought a product because of its association with a particular social cause.There’s some food for thought.A great example of this is happening right now.Have you seen the recent ‘Chain of Good’ advert from Innocent Smoothise? It shows how, by buying an Innocent Smoothie, Mark helps a family in Uganda.Not only is the video well put together, it simply gets their message across – by buying their product you will be directly helping families in Uganda make a better future for themselves.Another example is from Pantene. Their main audience is women so their ‘Labels Against Women’ video is a powerful reminder of gender bias, an issue that their target market cares about.Supporting social causesBefore you rush out and create your video, it’s essential you give careful consideration about which cause you decide to support.As with the Pantene example, it must be something that matters to your audience.It’s important not to align with a social cause just because you believe it will be beneficial to your business. Instead, you must look at what will help you build better relationships with your customers.If you can demonstrate your concern for something bigger than your company and that holds special significance to your customers, you’ll be on to a winner.
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You Don’t Need Technical Skills to Start an Online Business
A few weeks back I was giving a coaching session and was baffled to hear that the individual I was talking to had joined a web programming online course so he would have the technical skills to begin an online business.I ended up the call very frustrated.Technical skills are not vital for starting an online business. The main mistake many people do when beginning online is to believe that they need first to know how to code.Somebody is thinking of beginning an online business and… join a programming or web engineer online course.Do you see any logic here?!I now understand why web-programming courses have been flourishing the last few years on the Internet!With individuals intrigued by the opportunity that lies in having an online business, they mistakenly believe that by gaining the technical knowledge they will be able to start an online business.You can be the best online software engineer in the world and still struggle in being a successful digital entrepreneur.I get it – without a site, you can’t go far on the web.The uplifting news is that whether you want to blog or sell products online, you can have a website without having to type a single line of code.I am thinking obviously at WordPress, my favourite website builder platform.But Wix is also another great alternative for any individual who needs an online presence.Don’t let a lack of technical skills alarm you The Internet is always changing, which implies that it offers opportunities for any individual who has something valuable to offer.If you’ve ever considered starting a business, I strongly recommend going online.The Internet offers you the possibility to create a fully automated online business that will give you a passive income and flexibility in your life. You will be able to work anywhere in the world as long as you have a computer and an Internet connection.I like to call it ‘living a digital lifestyle’.Give value to your customers first The Internet tracker, Internet Live Stats, estimates the number of websites live to near one billion.With thousands of websites created everyday, it is fundamental to know how to advertise your business effectively.95% of your work in growing an online business should to be centered on how to give value – and not on learning technical skills.When an online business goes down, it is not a result of technical issues but rather the fact that the owner didn’t bring genuine value to its audience.Many people start online on their own and give up from frustration. Don’t be this one.You might have tried before and have realized that promoting a business online is no easy task.Perhaps you have focused too much on the technical side and lost track on growing the business instead. Or you didn’t know how to bring value to your customers.For sure it requires significant investment to figure out how to give genuine value to the people you want to target, but once you found the right formula, you will see your online business flourish without having you to work harder for it!
What Can an Outsourced Telecommunications Manager Do for Your Business?
You can have your own expert who has diverse experience of working with a broad range of companies and technologies apply his knowledge to your specific needs. Better yet, you can have this high level expertise without the staff overhead.Here’s how it works. An outside expert would perform the following “in-house” activities for you instead of you having a full time in-house telecommunications manager. Here’s what they would do:
Translate business processes into communications practices.
Determine telecommunications needs.
Participate in Strategic Planning for Communications by keeping you updated on new telecommunications technologies, products, and services.
Provide telecommunications leadership to the corporation, particularly in the areas of PBX (telephone system) technologies, Voice Mail, Contact Centers, IVR (Interactive Voice Response), ACD (Automatic Call Distributor), CT (Computer Telephony), Video Conferencing technologies, and Wide Area Networks (Between Locations).
Design, develop, and implement telecommunications solutions – including voice, data, and video networks – with current technologies and planned capabilities for future technologies.
Integrate telecommunications designs with data communications infrastructure to achieve efficiencies of operations and cost savings.
Negotiate with equipment and services vendors on pricing and performance.
Manage corporate telecommunications projects from concept to implementation.
Assist with budget preparation and management.
Develop and manage RFI (Request for Information), RFP (Request for Proposal) and bid processes for telephone system purchase decisions, long distance carrier contract negotiations, private communications networks, and other activities in support of corporate projects.
Coordinate with purchasing in supplier management.
Provide consulting and advisory services to the entire organization including branch offices and subsidiaries.