Almost Savvy » Branding

LinkedIn-apalooza! Ready to rev-up your profile?

Irene Koehler — Fri, 09 Apr 2010 16:00:04 +0000

If you’re a professional or business person, you know you need to be using LinkedIn wisely, right? And, college students, that goes for you, too. If you don’t know why it matters or know deep-down in the pit of your stomach, you know that you’re really not all that sure what to do with LinkedIn, then this is for you……

I’m excited to be partnering with O’Reilly Media to present a free webinar on using the more advanced features of LinkedIn on April 20. Here’s the deal…this webinar is for people who have already customized and optimized their LinkedIn profiles. If you start actively using LinkedIn’s more interactive features without having done the critical work on your profile first, you won’t get nearly the value out of your efforts as you would have otherwise. In fact, this can work against you.

To bridge this gap and make sure to catch everyone up so you are ready to get the most out of the O’Reilly webinar, I am offering another webinar before then to cover all the customization tips and details which are often overlooked.

Be sure to register and mark your calendars for:

April 20, 10:00 am (Pacific) LinkedIn Beyond the Basics – In partnership with O’Reilly. This is FREE
April 23, 10:00 am (Pacific) LinkedIn Basics Webinar – Regular price $39 (a great deal!) 50% Discount code to be shared during O’Reilly session

What questions or tips would you like to have covered in the sessions? While I probably won’t be able to cover everything, your input is most helpful as I prepare the best presentation to meet your needs.

Who Influences You? (Plus, get a free book)

Irene Koehler — Tue, 06 Apr 2010 21:33:03 +0000

One of the best ways to learn is to watch others; see what works, what falls flat, what suits your style and what doesn’t.

Learning how best to communicate and influence others is no different. Don’t we all hope to influence others in some way? Whether it is to market our business, persuade a client or vendor, motivate an audience or capture the attention of potential employers, influence is important.

Seizing the opportunity to learn from people and brands who successfully build an audience (and those who miss the mark) allows us to develop our own set of best practices. Gaining traction as an influencer is no simple task. Adding “Become an influencer” task to our calendar for next Monday morning will not accomplish anything, at least not with genuine, long-term results.

To further muddy the waters, not only do we have different ideas how to become an influencer, we don’t all agree on what it means to influence others.

Is being an influencer something we do…

or, is it something we are?

Think about individuals and brands that influence your thinking, decisions or actions. Who are they and, more importantly, what is it about them that connects you so strongly to them?

Your Turn: Comments and Free Books!

Courtesy of Dale Carnegie Training to celebrate the release of their new iPhone app, I have 10 free copies of ‘How to Win Friends and Influence People‘ to give away as follows: Five will go to the first 5 people who add relevant comments. The remaining 5 will go to those with the best comments (to be selected by members of the AlmostSavvy fan page on Facebook). And, no, you can’t win 2 books! Comments posted by April 13 will be considered. Winners will be contacted on April 15, making tax day just a little brighter.

Please share! I can’t wait to learn from your experiences.

Do You Have a Digital Business Card? (Register for .tel for free)

Irene Koehler — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 21:12:41 +0000

We all want to be found more easily online when our friends, potential clients and employers Google us. We’ve set up our LinkedIn profiles, started blogging, created websites, invited others to be our friends on Facebook and tweeted like crazy on Twitter. With all of these fragmented presences online, wouldn’t it be nice to have a directory of all the places we can be found, plus the option to include our email address, phone number and tags which help the right people find us and get in touch? That way, we could direct people to just one place to be referred to the various ways to contact us and find out what we’re up to. It’s sort of like a virtual phone book; you remember the phone book, don’t you? They used to be useful way back when, before we found contact information online and started using them only as doorstops and booster seats for kids not tall enough to reach the dining table.

There are plenty of easy ways to do this now. Each offers their own features and options for customization and discoverability. Among the options are:

Today, I am focusing on registering a .tel domain (you may be more familiar with other domains, such as .com, .net and .org). To help me understand the benefits of owning my .tel domain, I met with Vincent Largilliere of Digitrad, who was kind enough to walk me through the set-up. First, it is important to understand that registering a .tel domain is similar to registering any domain – it is not free, unlike the other sites I’ve listed above. For that fee, though, you have more control of your information because it is a completely different site, rather than just a page on someone else’s site. I encourage you to look at the features of each type of directory listing. There is no reason you can’t use more than one of the options above.

What is .tel?

From the Digitrad website:

(click image to enlarge)

The .tel allows you to store, publish and update online all your contact information and keywords under your unique domain name, without the need for a website

> For individuals, .tel is a business card fully secure and customizable.

> For companies, .tel is both a limited public directory open to customers, and a internal directory, complete and secure for you and your co-workers .

All the extensions are identical, .tel is different: classical extensions link a website to an address, .tel links an address to an identity. This is its specificity and main strength.

.tel will allow you to increase your visibility on the Internet, to optimize your referencing, but also and more importantly to manage your personal digital identity as you see it, with the flexibility and the security that you need

More information can be found on the Digitrad website here.

Want to register .tel for free?

Vincent has offered free registration of a .tel account for AlmostSavvy readers. If you’d like to grab a year’s free registration of your very own .tel account, take a look at the video and keep reading.

In the video, Vincent answers a few questions about the value of .tel and walks me through the set-up process. You’ll note that I had to do quite a bit of editing (it seems we both talk too much!).

Following our session, I continued the set-up process. Take a peek at IreneKoehler.tel now.

To get a code for free registration of your own .tel account, simply add a comment below sharing why you’d like to try it out. Be sure to add a valid email address in the appropriate field (that’s how I’ll get the code to you).

Many thanks to Vincent and Digitrad for offering free registration to AlmostSavvy readers to allow you to see for yourself how you might use it to your own best advantage to manage your online reputation and visibility.

Thanks also to the kind folks at the Skoll Foundation who loaned us their conference room to tape the interview above, and thanks to Adin Miller for connecting me with the Skoll Foundation.

Also, in the name of full disclosure, Vincent did buy me a crepe while I was in Paris attending LeWeb. The crepe was not in exchange for this blog post, but I understand that perception is everything. Frankly, if anyone ever wanted to compensate me for a blog post, I’d hope the going rate would be something greater than one crepe and an offer to give blog readers a discount code. Evidence of said crepe.

What is Your Favorite “Real-time” Tool?

Irene Koehler — Sat, 12 Dec 2009 16:10:00 +0000

The theme of LeWeb ’09 was “The Real-time Web,” but what exactly “is” real-time? And, at what point, do real-time tools stop being new toys which only truly-geeky people use and start becoming so embedded into our everyday lives that we don’t really think about them, but can’t imagine living without them?

While most of the conversation at LeWeb was fairly technical and focused on what’s ahead, such as exciting new applications and tech start-ups, I wondered what tools these uber-geeky folks are using day-to-day in their real lives which are simple enough for the rest of us non-geeks to use.

I invite you to hear from some of the attendees as they share a few of their favorite tools. Let me know in the comments which tool is your favorite and why you’re a fan.

Creating Evangelists: Social Media the Cirque du Soleil Way

Irene Koehler — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 16:47:19 +0000

As part of Cirque du Soleil‘s social media strategy, a number of bloggers attending BlogWorld in Las Vegas were invited to attend one of their fabulous shows. With six completely different Cirque shows in Las Vegas, choosing just one proved a daunting task, but I eventually selected LOVE.

It is hard to imagine any theatrical experience topping the feast for the senses that is LOVE, Cirque’s tribute to The Beatles. It is a high energy show in which cast members defy gravity and the line between performance space and audience members is blurred. It’s as if LOVE? dug deep into my imagination and re-created it all on stage, while making it all much cooler and more psychedelic in the process.

A key part of a successful social media business strategy is identifying those with influence and an interest in your brand, and then finding a way to engage them turning them into fans and evangelists. This strategy was definitely in play here. Results: Did I attend LOVE because I was offered a ticket? Yes, absolutely. Am I now a huge Cirque fan because I was offered a ticket? Absolutely not. It was 100% positively fantastical and fabulous. Will I continue to tell folks heading to Vegas that they should find a way to see LOVE? You bet.

Again, an example of marketing at its finest – create interest up front and then blow their socks off by delivering beyond expectations. A finely-tuned marketing and social media strategy which creates a level of buzz, but isn’t matched by the actual experience or product in real life will do nothing other than create a group of disappointed, and likely vocal, customers.

To learn more about how Cirque du Soleil is using social media, I spoke with Cirque Social Media Manager, Jessica Berlin.

Have you seen examples of brands using social media well or others missing the mark? Please add your thoughts.

New to Social Media? Step 1: Be a Consumer

Irene Koehler — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 05:23:28 +0000

In the last post, you heard Chris Brogan describe how important having a blog can become in the quest to be found more readily online. We know you’re awesome, but if no one can find you, does being awesome matter?

If you are now thinking about taking the plunge, you’ll want to be sure to watch this video first. Up next is bestselling author Jennifer Kushell, who suggests taking the time to become familiar with what others are doing online before submitting to the pressure to jump feet first into social media.

I was thrilled to meet Jennifer at BlogWorld a few days ago. She and I were already connected and communicating through Twitter, but there is nothing quite like having the opportunity to sit down together for lunch. Speaking of lunch, this is exactly when I pulled out the video camera, so please excuse the background noise. With everyone so excited to network with others they knew only virtually, escaping to a quiet spot simply wasn’t possible.

Jennifer, aka @ysnjen on Twitter, is well respected in the social media world for her insights into how to communicate and brand oneself in the fast-paced online world. She is the President of Young & Successful and the author of several books for the young entrepreneur.

Jennifer’s advice makes a great deal of sense. It is critical to observe first. For example, if you are thinking of starting a blog, invest time in reading others’ blogs, especially in your area of interest. What do you like about the blogs? What would you do differently in terms of content or design?

As with all things online, it is extremely important to have a plan and goals first. This meshes with #1 on my list of 11 Ways to Thrive on Twitter. With a strategy in place, execution is more focused and more likely to succeed.

Have you taken the time to be a consumer of content first before being a publisher? Is there a downside to taking such an approach?

If you’ve enjoyed these interviews and are interested in learning more about how to get started using social media, be sure to enter your email address in the box over to the right and you won’t miss a thing. There are many more helpful tips to come and I’ll deliver them right to your emailbox.

Blogging – Just Do It!

Irene Koehler — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 06:23:52 +0000

Holy Toledo, am I having a great time at BlogWorld! I’m exhausted, energized, and inspired.

In my last post, I invited you to share your questions about blogs and blogging and promised that I’d seek out various bloggers to share their thoughts and advice. You certainly didn’t disappoint! Excellent questions poured in via email, Twitter, the AlmostSavvy Facebook page, and comments on my blog.

I absolutely believe there are enormous benefits to having a blog – if you have a plan and the dedication to stick with it. Rather than listen to just my take on things, I invite you to listen to a number of amazingly talented and generous bloggers I talked with at the conference.

First up is Chris Brogan. Chris is widely respected in the social media world, both for his technical expertise and his solid reputation as a caring and endlessly decent guy. His blog at ChrisBrogan.com is always inspiring and educational. Subscribe and you are in for a treat!?He recently co-wrote the New York Times Bestseller?Trust Agents: Using the Web to Build Influence, Improve Reputation, and Earn Trust, a must-read for those interested in building valued business relationships through social media.

Here, Chris answers the extremely important question, “How can having a blog help me or my business?”

What do you think of Chris’ advice? If you have a blog, has it made it easier for you to be found online? What key points would you add?

What Happens in Vegas… (Or How to Ruin a Reputation With Just One Click)

Irene Koehler — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 18:40:56 +0000

As they stumbled across Las Vegas Blvd., I marveled at how they were able to stay atop those five-inch stiletto heels, despite the

obvious challenges in pay. Loudly, and repeatedly, the members of the bachelorette party proclaimed, “What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas,” as they lifted their drinks aloft. Armed with the knowledge that “no one will ever know,” they embraced the opportunity to party in public with gusto and enthusiasm.

While I imagine that this attitude makes the local board of tourism very happy, is there really any place where we can do whatever we want and be assured that no one will know about it?

For these scantily-clad partiers, there are photos to think about, lots of photos. I know; I took some of them using their cameras and cell phones so they could all get into the group shots. There is no doubt in my mind that many of those photos were already uploaded to Facebook and shared with friends. While I don’t know these young women, I’m guessing this may not turn out to be their proudest moment or one they’d like to have shared with Dad or their boss. The photos been posted, tagged and emailed. Do they really have any control over what happens with those photos now?

Am I saying that only those who end up drunk in Las Vegas are the only ones who need to be concerned about their online content? Absolutely not.

Have you ever:

Written an email (or left a voicemail) to a co-worker, customer or (gosh, I hope not) your boss after having a few drinks?
Attended a party or other gathering when someone starts taking photos and then suddenly find that they’ve been posted and tagged on Facebook. (Yes, you can un-tag yourself, but that doesn’t really solve the problem.)
Complained online anywhere about another person or share any news which might reflect poorly on you?
Posted anything online while feeling hurt or angry?

There is no “Las Vegas” online. There is no place where we can behave or act in a way we normally wouldn’t and be assured that no one will know.

Regardless of your privacy settings or your own practice of sharing certain thing with friends only, there are no guarantees. Friends have been known to misjudge what we think is funny or appropriate. Friends have also been known to stop being friends, and at that point, all bets are off.

To manage our online reputation, we must ask ourselves one question before we click that button: “Am I OK with my mom, my boss, my professors and CNN seeing this?” If the answer isn’t a resounding Yes!, stop. Don’t send, update, share, tweet or publish.

Online content can be easily found and shared. Deleting – not so easy.

Heading out to explore Las Vegas for the day. I will do my best to behave myself and not publicly post any momentary indiscretions.

Have you ever regretted something you’ve shared online?
Seen anyone else share something which gave you that “uh-oh” feeling?

________________________
This is my first post using the WordPress app on my BlackBerry, so I am not able to see the post as you see it. All feedback is appreciated. FYI-Typing a post of the tiny keyboard hurts after while!

Multiple Personalities

Irene Koehler — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 08:08:15 +0000

Melanie, a good friend of mine, has multiple personalities. At least, it might appear this way if all you knew about her was what you found online. Even though I?ve known her for years, a simple online search yielded results which surprised me. Several of the sites listed in the search engine results included information about Melanie, but each gave a vastly different picture of who she is. It made me want to ask, ?Will the real Melanie please stand up??

First, I headed over to her company?s website, where Melanie is listed as one of the top executives. Her photo is professionally done; listed are details such as her job title, key areas of responsibility and where she received her two college degrees. The information on the company website is well written and crisp; leaving no doubt that she is a highly qualified and well respected executive.

Next, I took a peek at Melanie?s profile on LinkedIn (www.linkedin.com) gives a more complete picture of her professional background including where she?s worked in the past, her areas of expertise and interest. In addition, in viewing her LinkedIn profile, I am able to see other professionals with whom Melanie has a connection, which gives me a more complete picture of who she is. Included in her connections are current and prior bosses, coworkers, clients and vendors.

While there were other sites listed as having information about Melanie, I selected Facebook (www.facebook.com) as my last stop in the ?Discover Melanie Online? tour. On her Facebook page, I found all sorts of photos ? Melanie on vacation with her husband (including some where she was showing off her new swimsuit), Melanie engaged in various sports competitions, Melanie having drinks and acting silly with her college friends, etc. Visible were personal notes she and her friends had written to each other, links to her favorite bands? latest videos and a place to rate how ?hot? she is as compared to her friends.

Which one represents the ?real? Melanie? Could they all be an accurate portrayal of who she is? I can tell you that, yes, they all represent her accurately. The more important question is whether all of this information represents her well? With so much information on the internet today, much of it user generated (meaning that we put it there ourselves), which approach is best ? to take on different ?personalities? given the nature of the particular website (some professional, some social) or to be more consistent across all user generated content? Experts in personal branding tell us to decide what we want the world to know about us and then set out to reinforce a consistent and image in all that we do online. One should no longer ask IF someone is looking up information about us online, because they are ? our current and potential employees, business partners, customers, employers, college admissions officers and so on. The only question is whether or not what they find online presents the ?personality? we?d like them to see.

My advice to Melanie was to reconsider how she feels having the content of her Facebook page visible to business associates. Not surprisingly, she has since toned down her page so that it represents her professional personality with a touch of the social side without any over-the-top content or photos. In truth, we all have multiple personalities. In the ?real? world, we can easily choose how much of ourselves we reveal and to whom. In the virtual world, things are much more complicated.

If I ignore bad publicity, does that mean it isn’t there?

Irene Koehler — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 07:28:20 +0000

Big companies, small businesses – we all work very hard to deliver an extraordinary product or service to our customers. We want happy customers and employees and will generally do (almost) anything to keep them happy. Despite our best efforts, there will be times when someone is dissatisfied and complains. These days, they don’t always complain directly to us. If they are really ticked off, they head straight to the nearest computer to share their thoughts with a virtually limitless audience. Between blogs, websites, social networks, chat rooms and videos, their options are numerous.

Can we prevent them from doing this? Can we make the bad publicity go away? In almost all cases, the answers are – No and No. What does set us apart is how we respond to the criticism. Integral to determining a response while simultaneously reinforcing the brand is understanding your target audience. What is important to them? What about this company attracts them? Which communication mediums do they use?

An absolutely fabulous example of a big company taking a lemon and making lemonade is EA Sports, creators of video games. A fan of the Tiger Woods video game posted a video on YouTube showing a glitch in the game as the graphics showed the golf pro standing in water at one point. Uh-oh! While I’d imagine that, behind closed doors, there were discussions about who did or didn’t do what which led to such an oops, what came out to the public was nothing short of brilliant.

Mighty impressive! They understood their audience, showed that they have a sense of humor about themselves and successfully turned that uh-oh moment into an viral marketing opportunity.? Of course, we don’t all have Tiger Woods at our disposal nor do we have the budget to pull this off, but it is a great illustration of the value of carefully considering the message and the audience before we rush to defend ourselves.

Almost Savvy » Branding

LinkedIn-apalooza! Ready to rev-up your profile?

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Who Influences You? (Plus, get a free book)

Your Turn: Comments and Free Books!

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Do You Have a Digital Business Card? (Register for .tel for free)

What is .tel?

Want to register .tel for free?

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What is Your Favorite “Real-time” Tool?

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