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Testing Opt-In Forms for Google Plus Circles

By on September 27, 2011 in Blog Coach, Conversations, Social Media with 0 Comments


A piece +Denise Wakeman wrote on using an opt-in form for G+ Circles got me thinking yesterday. How many folks are using this?

As an experiment, I’ve created two non-business related Circles (though both subjects have plenty of lessons within).

Feel free to hop-in either one. (if you’re looking for your G+ Profile, just sign-in to Google Plus and click on your profile.

Opt-in form for Life Lessons from Baseball: http://bit.ly/pMT2uU
Opt-in form for Life Lessons from the Movies: http://bit.ly/qJEJE4

Maybe we should “share circles” to talk about baseball movies?

P.S. If you have a circle for either Baseball or Movies, I’d enjoy being part of your circles

 

 

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I’m Not Just Another Name Tag (And Neither Are You)

By on September 27, 2011 in Conversations, Marketing with 2 Comments


Each morning I leave the house, there are three things I make sure I have plenty of (besides coffee):

  • Business Cards
  • Postcards
  • Name Tags

The last item on the list is new – and I’m finding it’s a conversation starter.

I’ve long admired how Scott Ginsberg (aka The Nametag Guy) wears his name tag everywhere. Everywhere. He practices transparent living.

Recently, I got into the habit and I’m finding them to be conversation starters – and ice breakers. Look, I carry business cards and post cards (my version of a brochure or sales card), why not wear a name tag too? Now, when I walk into a business or store – they call me by name. Immediately, the conversation is warmer.

Back to Scott: His post on Lessons About Anonymity compelled me to pick up a name tag habit. In the post, he says: Anonymity is the death of civility.

Since the late 90s, I’ve always tried to live a glass-house life. It’s helped. It’s hurt. If something goes wrong, folks can either believe their eyes or believe the lies. Consistent, transparent, accessible. So why the name tag if transparency is already a habit?

In this day of folks craving privacy and not exercising their nice muscles (“Hi! Have a Nice Day”) not only does a name tag stand out – it softens the atmosphere.

Try waving at everyone that passes by your store or business (yes, everyone). Will they think you’re weird? Probably, but we’re all weird. If you’re wearing a name tag, you’ll remember to be nice more often – and you’ll probably be remembered!

Am I trying to be Scott? Nope. It’s why I write “Mike” on my name tag.  What’s on your name tag?

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Creating a Business That Works for You: Step 1

By on September 23, 2011 in Books, Conversations with 0 Comments

Read this book:  The Big Enough Company

Whereas the last book I shared wasn’t about you, this book is all about you – as far as creating a business – your business – right for you. For who you are, what you’re about, and how you want to live.

It’s really more than a book, it’s really two books in one.

The first part is a workbook, asking you important questions, giving examples of how others found their answers, and helping you navigate through potential pitfalls.

The second part is a playbook – the “If-Then-Next” kind of guide that gives you scenarios of potential problems and solutions to consider.

This book is filled with Cheat Sheets, Success Stories and navigation that will help you design a business that fits you. It’s the type of grab-and-open-to-any-page book that is money every time.

The authors, who are entrepreneurs themselves – In Good Company – and community cultivators, talk about their your book in this video:

Tom Peters once said something to the effect of: “If a $20 book has one great idea, I’ve found a great bargain.” Well, this book is will be one of the greatest bargains of all time if you keep the pages handy and apply what you glean.

This is probably not the last piece I write about this one.

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Finding Your Three Keys for Great Content Curation

By on September 9, 2011 in Blog Coach, Conversations, Marketing, Social Media with 0 Comments


Finding great content to share will make others more aware and show them how much you really care.

One of the first exercises we do with a small business getting into social media is learn to be a resource for the target they want to serve.

The thinking here is that by knowing who you want to attract and what is important to them - by being a resource towards their values and wants – you will attract them.

Focus on three words or phrases that is most important to your core customer.

This is sometimes a tough exercise – and it should be. It’s important. At the beginning of this exploration, I’m found repeating myself,

“It’s not about your business, right now it’s about their lives – what do they want?”

Whether you do this alone or with a team, write down all the phrases that come up. Post-its or a whiteboard are great here. With each phrase, continue to ask yourself a few “so what…?” – as in “so how does that help them change their lives?” or “why would that matter to them?”

One business recently focused on these three phrases for their core customer: More Energy, Live Longer, Look Good.

Remember, we’re defining these phrases for purposes of being a resource – content curation and knowledge sharing.  This is the 70 in the 70-20-10 formula. This exercise isn’t about our unique selling position or to find a great tagline.

This exercise is about focusing on what to share, who to share it with, and filtering signal from noise. It’s both listening and engaging.

Once you get these “Three Keys” – you’ll be able to focus on what RSS feeds to subscribe to, who to follow and retweet on Twitter, and what to write about on your blog.

Be the resource

 

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A Global and Gospel Wedding Celebration

By on August 5, 2011 in Brain Stew, Conversations, Cool Tools, Social Media with 1 Comment

Maybe on the surface, but not at the foundation.

I’ve been attracted and focused on an important event recently. Angela Thye and I have been planning a wedding celebration.

We’ve been using quite a few social media tools to enhance the event (and we are just sidebars on this celebration – see the wedding invitation video)

One of the more exciting tools we are using is UStream. Angela and I have both been around the globe and have friends and family all over (Did you know Angela was raised on the mission fields of Indonesia?)

Here’s a video explanation of our thinking.

And please, feel free to tune in to the wedding tomorrow at 11 AM Central.

Walking the Stacks of Our Life

By on June 15, 2011 in Blog Coach, Blogging, Conversations with 0 Comments

45394246 While cooking up some scrambled eggs, I looked in the fridge to see what I could add to the mix. Ham? Not today. Rice? Uh — no. Bell Pepper?  Yes, that sounds good.

While folding the eggs (want fluffly? fold, then scramble), I wondered how scrambled eggs was like content marketing with social media.

"Are scrambled eggs like blogging?"

Maybe yes, maybe no. Ah, but the questioning itself . . .

The interesting habit many pick up after a few months of blogging is this type of questioning conversation in their mind.

"Is _____ like _____ ?"

Thinking in these metaphors, similes, and analogies helps keep our storytelling and storylistening fresh. 

The world becomes a library as we walk the stacks of our life.

"The important thing is not to stop questioning. Curiosity has its own reason for existing. One cannot help but be in awe when he contemplates the mysteries of eternity, of life, of the marvelous structure of reality." – Albert Einstein

 

What are Conversation Stations?

By on March 17, 2011 in Conversations, Social Media with 0 Comments

2646432270_4fc8ec3584 Long before this site existed . . . long before the Internet, there were conversation stations.  Be it the busy marketplace bazaar or the quietude of a cave drawing, since chalk on a rock and smoke in a stack, we've had conversation stations.

And while our current age seems to favor the semantic web and social networks as its tools of choice, there will be changes in tools, but similarities in other elements.

For the past several years, this site has been dedicated to teaching others how to use the toolset of social and self publishing to further their relationships and their message. There have also been occasions to teach and train using other forms of conversation stations, such as pulpits and classrooms, coffee tables and boardrooms.

But conversation is, in my mind, tied more to behavior than to delivering messages ad nauseum. Conversation is as much (more?) listening as talking – as much behavior in silence and solitude as it is noise making in a crowd.

That's where this site and its efforts are heading. Not so much away from "social media" – but closer to the complete package of conversation as an art.

So stick around . . . or not:-)  We've much to learn together. Online and offline.

Photo on Flickr by Will Lion

 

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Maybe Close, But Not Same

By on February 1, 2011 in Brain Stew, Conversations with 0 Comments

126698126_bff64009d1

Listening – Hearing

Demanding – Mean

Difficulty – Contradictory

Bold – Obnoxious

Esteem – Ego

Meek – Weak 

Saying what's right – Saying the right things

Others?

Photo on Flickr by Automania

 

 

 

By Listening

By on January 31, 2011 in Brain Stew, Conversations with 0 Comments

6a00d834516aff69e20120a58004c7970b-500wi By Listening, I learn;
For from all others I can glean.

By Listening, I serve;
There are many yearning for ears to hear.

By Listening, others practice what they know
And together we both might grow.

By Listening, I exercise patience;
Ears are muscles so underdeveloped.

By Listening, I increase my vision;
So I can see more clearly.

By Listening

Guest Posting on ConverStations?

By on January 24, 2011 in Blog Coach, Conversations, Social Media with 0 Comments

SwampedI'm opening it up.  The only time I've ever had a guest post on this site is during my stay in the hospital in June of 2007 (kidney success!).

This season has me deep into some fantastic project work on other sites. Of course, I think about ConverStations every day — though that's about the limit right now.

So, do you want to write or repurpose a Guest Post? If you're interested in writing a post or two to get in front of a different audience, I'll be happy to post it and spread it.

A few things I'll ask if you do submit:

  • Do your best to write on how small businesses or educational leadership can use Social Media tools as part of a larger strategy (i.e., increase revenues, enhance learning, save time while increasing reach, etc)
  • Include at least two links out (at least one to your site, at least one to another blog)
  • Provide eye rests
  • If you have a video or slideshow to embed, we'll also put that in the sidebars and in the Brunch and Brains category.

If you want to send something you've already written, or give it a different bend? DO you have a how-to (save time, use a tool, idea you'd like to pitch)? Do you have a small business and want to tell your blogging/Twittering story?  Would you like to ask this audience a question about your Social Media practices to see if it's a sound plan?

Send me the work, I'll post it.  Or DM me @mikesansone with questions.

 

 

 

 

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