Info-Leeches and other E-Invertebrates

We also provide top UK motivational business speakers, sporting and after dinner speakers. Click on the speaker categories at the foot of the page. If you need advice, please contact us. This is just a selection of guest speakers. If you don’t see the speaker you require here, please contact us as we will probably have them on our books.Recent data suggests that the vast majority of people spend a portion of their time regularly listening to the radio. So, if these people were to include your target market, might it make sense to send them a little message about you services or products? I was listening to radio 2 the other day on BBC radio and I heard the news. I was truly impressed with how clear the newsreaders had been speaking. Whenever, I attempt to speak on the microphone or even just leave a message on my telephone, I sound all weird! One of the most important components of public speaking is the sound of your voice. It will influence the impact of your message, and possibly make or break the success of your speech. And, for many people, good voice quality can be learned.Some of the most effective while in the business in the voiceover arena include mick brown and some of that crowd. You may well believe the radio announcers you listen to on a regular basis are awesome at what is called the “Ad Lib” while in the enterprise. The majority of them aren’t. What they are is expert, creative, funny and most importantly prepared. Several best morning shows have qualified writers who are behind the scenes feeding material on the “on air talent” as the show progresses. Other people invest hours researching existing events and planning what shall be included inside the regular exhibit.I communicate with my agents via text exclusively but most of my clients still prefer the phone initially. I find that after the client is comfortable and realized that I text as well then they send more texts than calls typically.

That’s simply because, frankly, I will not generally get it extremely difficult to have return calls from the voice mail messages I leave. Not even from complete strangers, famous authors, top-level executives, and so on.

Social media is a completely different layer that has been added to the web, hence the web 2.0. Now social media marketing is becoming mainstream and in a couple years we won’t even be able to imagine a time when we couldn’t interact with all the screens and mobile content surrounding us. It is indeed a misnomer, but to suggest that the platforms that enable conversations between people and between people and brands are not viable ad opportunities is ludicrous.

Social media is all about sharing and connecting. It is the use of technology combined with social interaction to create or co-create value. Twitter is just one of these web 2.0 Twitter is a perfect platform for micro blogging. Allowing you to post comments with just a few words. Ping.Fm another great tool that allows you update your post to all of your social networks at once. Social media provides the tools for people to collaborate and get around barriers for communication, build trust.

Social Media is a collection of online tools and sites that function on the premise that people are interested in talking to and engaging with other people. The fact is that social media tools differ significantly based on culture, Internet access and online behavior. Community Community members respond quickly to request to test new tools. Community members provide reflections on their activity, which stimulates change within the group. If you use monitoring to discover a real community, perhaps one you didn’t know existed, then you’ve found a treasure trove of real opinions, reactions, reviews, etc.

Social Media IS NOT SEO, but search engines DO look kindly upon blog posts/community comments/online noise. Conversation Conversations in these types of communities tend to be regulated by the needs of the community’s creator or sponsors, they are less transparent, and less valuable to the participants at hand. The ability to actually listen in on market conversations made possible by social media will drive a sea change in the market research industry, one that today’s early adopters are starting to understand.

If you are a moderately successful businessman, happy with the limited success that you have got through your word of mouth referrals, then this article is not for you. However, most entrepreneurs want to grow and are always striving to keep in pace with the competition, or else their existence is questioned.

There are a thousand and one other companies which provide the same professional services as yours, but establishing a visual image of your own business can contribute to your business’ growth, create a corporate identity and help your clients to distinguish you from the rest of the pack. That is why you need a “Logo”.

This logo of your business puts up the gist of your company to the rest of the world in a single image. In today’s world you hardly have a second to drag a potential client’s attention and grab the business. It’s the logo of your company, which tells and creates the first impact on the client. It’s the quickest and the easiest way to convey the essence of your business - your logo tells your business story without uttering a word.

Your logo is one of the “most” important elements of your business. It creates your brand identity. It is something, which within its shape, size, color and design conveys the soul and spirit of a business. Effectiveness of a logo comes when it is instantly recognizable and can also evoke some emotional feedback from the client.

Courtesy of the open global market, today you can easily get a professionally designed logo at a very affordable rate, then why go for amateurs?

Even in today’s competitive world I often come across entrepreneurs who spend thousands of dollars in set ups, employee training, entertaining clients and then take one of the cheap routes in designing a logo. They would most likely hire their neighbor “Van Gogh” or think himself “Leonardo Da Vinci” and create a do-it-yourself icon with any of the desktop publishing program. However, if you are actually serious about your business you should get your logo done by some professional logo design firm with specialized skills, else there is every possibility that your logo will read “RIP”.

Of course, doing a fantastic logo doesn’t ensure your business success but it can definitely initiate and accelerate the process. At your end, you also need to ensure that your business fulfills and match the promises put forward by your company logo. Your logo should be able to put up a clear picture and successfully exude the attitude of your business and it is your duty to meet all those expectations that your client will imbibe from your logo.

I am sure many of you didn’t realize that a professional logo is so important for your business; however, it’s never too late. Your logo is important, and you must give it the time and money it deserves, be sure this will pay you back in double, if not more. Get a professional logo and take the first step to raise your business to the next level.

Remember, you are not going for tattoo designed for your forearms, but your logo will simply be the icon on the forehead of your business.

Sam D’Costa is well known professional in Online Marketing and web promotions

Using lines and shapes and your company or business name can create an awesome and unique logo design that everyone will remember.

Nike for example uses a type of swoosh line and when you see this line you know it is Nike. So, why not come up with your own unique lines and shapes to convey your own image. When people see that Nike line they think of fast and then the put it with the Nike name and know that if they wear these shoes they will be fast runners.

Lines can convey feeling and emotional thoughts for your logo design. When using sharp edges they conveys discipline, conventionalism, and sometimes can be perceived as cybernetics. While softer edges will give your company the image of down to earth and casual.

Shapes can also give feeling such as a circle represents never-ending and protection, a square represents dependability, permanence, and honesty, a triangle represents competition, battle and vitality.

You may think that lines and shapes are boring but you would be definitely thinking wrong. Lines can be used in a variety of ways to ensure that your logo design is one that will be strong, get noticed and will be remembered. You can use lines with varying thicknesses, different patterns, dots and dashes, and even show movement.

Try sitting and doodling with your business name and use a variety of lines and shapes. Try encircling your company with circles and form a unique and awesome logo design. Try using dashes and dot to form shapes under or around your company’s initials.

Then take your ideas to a professional logo designer. He should be able to aid you in your decision to convey the image that you wish potential customers to feel when they see your logo design.

Copyright Attila Z Jancsina Unicorn Logo Design

Your Value Proposition, or as I usually call it, your Core Marketing Message, is still misunderstood by most professionals. It’s not just a tagline, sound bite or even an “Audio Logo.” It goes way beyond that.

It really is the expression of the essence of your business. It’s the foundation of all your marketing messages. It’s what makes you stand out and be memorable in an overcrowded marketplace of look-a likes. And it always is more about your clients and their businesses than it is about you and your business.

A great Value Proposition has several elements that, combined together, pack a powerful marketing punch that’s hard to ignore. These elements include the following:

1. Your ideal target client - Who exactly are your services designed for? It certainly just can’t be just “medium or large companies.” You need to zero in on much more specifically. What industry, department, technology, values?

2. Their problems or challenges - What are they struggling with? What’s not working for them? What opportunities are coming up that they may not be meeting successfully? What keeps them up at night? You need to know this in your head, heart and gut.

3. The solutions or results - Where do they want to go? What do they aspire to? What are they excited about and committed to? After they’ve solved their problems, where are they going to put their attention and resources?

4. The unique angle - What have you got that nobody else has? And how is this an advantage to your clients? What can you do faster, better, smarter than every other competitor out there? You need to know this with a high degree of certainty or you’ll just blend in with everyone else.

When you approach a buyer, whether through a call, an email, an article, or your web content, this Value Proposition needs to pop out vividly and urgently, letting them know you are worth paying attention to.

If you are going to express your Value Proposition verbally, you can usually do it in two well-structured sentences. These statements can be used in a wide variety of situations, from meeting someone at a networking event to calling a big company prospect on the phone.

Audio Logo: We work with companies who have large, widely diverse teams of workers and who are frustrated with high attrition rates and reduced productivity. (Target market plus problem)

Follow-Up: Our clients are interested in both cutting costs and increasing retention and appreciate that our “guaranteed worker program” results in the very best workers that stay 295% longer than the industry average. (Solution and uniqueness)

If you can develop a concise Value Proposition that is more than just words but is something you can really deliver on, you will find it much easier to get the attention and interest of buyers in big companies. Here are some of the biggest mistakes I see made in developing a Value Proposition.

* Thinking that it’s not important - You’ve go to make this a *Big Deal* because it’s really the key to it all. Sure it sounds complex and abstract. But the turning point in your business is likely to come when you “see the light” and start “preaching your message.”

* Not researching and testing - It’s not going to come to you in two minutes (unless you are very lucky). It usually takes a fair amount of research, brainstorming, testing it on clients and associates before it really clicks and you know you have something that works.

* Not truly differentiating - Often a Value Proposition only gets as far as the target market and the problem. That’s good but it can be too generic. Only when you get into your solution and your uniqueness will you really stand out and be noticed.

* Not having enough depth - A Value Proposition needs to go way beyond those four points and two statements outlined above. It needs to permeate into every nook and cranny of your marketing. Every expression of your business, large or small, needs to reek of your Value Proposition.

* Not having stories - Stories are the most persuasive marketing tools you can use. Take your Value Proposition as the central theme around which you’ll build your case studies and other stories that make a compelling and emotional case for your services.

To measure how strong your brand is copy and paste: (http://brandidentityguru.com/bightml/brandmasterpiece.html). Then click “Take the brand strength test”. This is a short survey that measures the strength of any company’s brand. It’s a great tool to see where you are today.

Scott White is President of Brand Identity Guru (http://www.brandidentityguru.com), a leading brand consulting and market research firm located in Easton, Massachusetts, USA, near Boston. Brand Identity Guru specializes in creating corporate and product brands that increase sales, market share, customer loyalty, and brand valuation.

Over the course of his 15-year branding career, Scott White has worked in a wide variety of industries: high-tech, manufacturing, computer hardware and software, telecommunications, banking, restaurants, fashion, healthcare, Internet, retail, and service businesses, as well as numerous non-profit organizations.

Brand Identity Guru clients include: Sun Life Financial, Coca Cola, HP, Sun, Nordstrom, American Federal Mortgage, Simon (America’s largest shopping mall manager) and many others, including numerous emerging growth companies.

Scott White is a very enthusiastic speaker and has the gift of being able to explain the principles of branding in a compelling and entertaining manner so that people at all levels can understand.

I encourage customers to buy books directly from me by noting on my Web site that the books are personally signed by the author. Another author said that, although she didn’t mean to offend, she didn’t know why anyone would want my signature. After all, I’m not famous.

Well, I didn’t take offense at her observation. In fact, I was a little surprised by the phenomenon, too. The fact is that I get a lot of feedback from customers about how much they like getting an autographed book. They respond to the personal touch. Maybe they are hoping that I will become famous (or infamous!) one day, and they will be able to sell the book on eBay for a huge profit. Or maybe they just like the connection to an almost-famous author.

Even if you don’t sell books, you may be able to use this personal touch to reach more customers. Craftsmen, artists and designers often sign their work. Do you produce a product you could sign? Even if your business is installing air conditioners, would saying that “all of our installers sign their work,” be a powerful message to customers about the pride your installers put in to everything they do?

Putting your name to something means that you have pride in it. Backing that up with a signature adds a personal touch to which customers will respond.

Copyright Cathy Stucker. As the IdeaLady, Cathy Stucker helps authors, entrepreneurs and professionals attract customers and make themselves famous. To learn more about book publishing and get free marketing tips, visit Cathy at http://www.IdeaLady.com/

You don’t think twice about a business card and letterhead logo for the visual aspect of your campaign, why not an audio logo to brand your broadcast campaign?

With the magic of music you can capture the personality of your business, create an emotional connection to your target audience and get recall & branding recognition (in some instances with people tapping their feet and singing your company name) even when you are not on the air.

The majority of advertisers use the free production services that radio and TV stations offer to save money. The fact is: Most Radio and TV production departments are overworked and many are burned out. In most cases, the same person writes and reads the majority of the spots on each station, recycling old ideas and trying to change their intonation and enthusiam for each commercial. Is that really what you want for your campaign?

It’s possible to seperate yourself from the clutter of bland, burned out creative that is circulating in epidemic proportions on radio and television these days. With music you can build the intensity under the voice-over copy so that the person reading your script can speak in a natural voice with the excitement building underneath. That excitement should lead into a compelling singing tag line that people look forward to hearing and will remember. The name of your business and your positioning statement… just like on your business card. Your musical identity. Maybe use it in the beginning of you spot as well?

With the aid of the internet search engine, you can find a great resource for the creation of such an identity. When seeking out the right music production house or jingle company, listen to as much of their work as possible. Compare overall quality. There are “one hit wonders” out there who may have one jingle that you like but the rest of their work is sub par. There are large jingle factories that have done some good work but are so large that you lose the personal touch and the buck tends to get passed when you want to make changes and suddenly no one is accountable. Don’t gamble. Take your time and do the research. Talk to the person who will be the writer and producer and get a feel for them before you commit.

It’s all about taking the time to find the right team.

Barry Volk is a former Staff Songwriter/Producer with ABC and Screen Ems/EMI Music Publishing, Musical Director for the West Coast Theater Company, National Director of Marketing for Metro Networks (A Westwood One Company). Barry is currently owner of Sound Advantage (A Musical Identity Company Since 1993).

http://www.soundad.com

When you’re all alone in the privacy of your home office, surrounded by your
computer, your phone and your business idea, have you ever asked yourself,
“Where’s the line between me in my business and the business in me”?

With hundreds of thousands of home-based businesses starting every year, and few
ever flourishing, the topic of branding has become hot, hot, hot. And thanks to
experts touting the need for a personal brand in sole proprietor businesses the
confusion is growing. It’s no wonder.  Business… personal… personal… business–
what IS the big difference any way?

Last week, I was guiding a client (a service-based sole practioner) through the same
step-by-step process that I take every company (sole practioner, entrepreneur or a
business of any size) through to develop their brand and I noticed that as we got
deeper and deeper into the process, she was having more and more trouble coming
up with answers.   The very answers that would separate her from other people
engaged the same exact business and distinctly establish her brand.

In the middle of working on the most important step in the branding process– the
brand statement–I asked her the simple question, “Why does she do business she
does?” she burst into tears. Halfway into the box of Kleenex she finally, revealed the
most amazing answer as to why she was in her chosen field in the first place.
Honestly, I think she stunned herself. We both sat silent for over a minute in awe of
the power she had tapped into with her discovery. (Don’t let anyone fool you, this is
from where the true power of branding comes.)

Then doubt reared its ugly head and like a butterfly emerging from a new cocoon, a
series of questions poured out of her: “Is this my business or is it me?” “Is why I do
what I do really that important?” “Why is it so hard for me to stand in the power of
my business and really make something of it?”

You get the picture? You may even be standing in a similar picture, even wrestling
with the same questions yourself. Bless you if you’re not.  Let’s look at the
difference between ‘your business’ and ‘you the person’ and see if we can clear up
this question once and for all.

A business: (be it Niketown or Bob’s Shoe Bonanza)
Delivers a product or service to fulfill a customer need.
You:
Deliver a product or service to fulfill a customer need.

A business:
Establishes a certain value that a customer can rely on from every contact with their
product or service.
You:
Establish a certain value that a customer can rely on from every contact with your
product or service. (If not, get on it immediately!)

A business:
Communicates consistently to reach the customers that have a need for their
product or service.
You:
Communicate consistently to reach the customers that have a need for your product
or service. (If not, what are you waiting for?)

A business:
Enjoys a financial reward equal to the amount of customers that it serves, AND a
personal reward for the creator/C.E.O.
You:
Enjoy a financial reward equal to the amount of customers that you serve AND YOU
get to experience the personal reward yourself.

If you look at just these four basic, bottom-line points, the difference between a
business and you as a sole business owner is… nothing; unless you count the added
bonus of you getting a financial AND personal reward.

At the start of every single business, throughout history, there has never been a
separation between the person starting it and the business itself. If you asked any
business figure-head today, Bill Gates of Microsoft, or Jeff Bezos of Amazon.com, or
if they took over a company like Meg Whitman for Ebay, or Carly Fiorina for Hewlett-
Packard, they would tell you that there is no difference in who ‘they are’ and what
‘they bring’ to their business. Why? Because there’s no room for a difference.  It’s the
alignment that makes it possible to reach the highest of the heights.

It’s challenging enough to make any business succeed. It’s tough enough to make
any business reside in the mind of a customer. Why would you remove the very
power of ‘you’ in every shape and form from your business?! Why not every day do
the thing that moves you the most?   You are the only thing that sets your business
apart– you just need a process of tapping into your power, connecting it  to your
business, and a systematic way of communicating it to your customers over and
over and over again.

When developing your amazing business as a brand, throw the doors wide open.
Create it as you would if you were reaching millions.   You can always decide exactly
how many millions later. Thinking of your brand as just a ‘personal’ one will do the
opposite.  Keep it small.

If you work for yourself, be it your own business, network marketing, or even an
agent/broker condition under a corporate umbrella, you are the CEO of
your business. Every CEO brings themselves personally to their business. The great
ones bring every thing they are to their creation, every moment.

The majority of our lives are spent doing what we call work. As an entrepreneur or
business owner, you have the wonderful opportunity to make it more. Make it your
creation. Think of yourself as the Creator of an Entrepreneur Organization. When
you wake up tomorrow, instead of saying to yourself, “I’m going to work” say “I’m
going to create.” And the operative word is I’m. The true power of really making
something in your business will come from investing in it the most valuable
commodity you have– you.

There is no separation on the road to big business success: just because you’re
personally on it. True big business success comes to those who know, it’s not
just business– it’s personal too.

Written by Kim Castle, the Co-founder of BrandU™ — the home of only step-by-
step process for developing your business as a brand from the inside out!

To get information on upcoming BrandU one-day workshops: http://
www.whybrandu.com/Public/events/workshop/index.cfm?semID=13

Get your Why You?!(sm) monthly ezine for easy-to-read tips and informative
insights on branding. To subscribe: http://www.whybrandu.com/

“BrandU™ — Big Business Success No Matter Your Size”

Trade shows are part of the marketing mix and the
appearance by your firm should be a continuum of your
entire marketing including advertising, public relations and
events.

While you may introduce a new product or showcase a
service, many firms make mistakes by not connecting the
overall corporate branding with the show. How can an
exhibit staff person be up to speed on what the company is
doing?

BEFORE THE SHOW …………

1. Make sure you have information about the exhibit – what
is in it, why it is there – before the show. Not the day before
but as soon as you get your assignment. The exhibit
manager has the responsibility to make sure the exhibit is
on time and looks great - among many other duties. The
marketing team decides the theme, products highlighted
and rationale.

2. Read your company and division web sites. Sure, there
are lots of pages but there are hidden nuggets in there that
you may have forgotten or may be new to you. Here’s what
you may not know – attendees who are serious about
meeting with you – well, they will check your web site. Best
to be as informed as your prospective clients are.

3. Read all the promotional materials that you will hand out.
If an attendee has a question while at the booth, your
answer will not be – DUH?

4. Know what is in all the demonstrations. Are there cues to
expand on the demo? Clues as to how to lead a
conversation? Listen carefully and make your life easier.

5. Read advertising in your trade publications. What does
your firm promote versus your competitors? Can you explain
the differences?

6. While reading the trades, look for articles and releases
about your company. Check your online press release
section or ask the PR department about releases sent
before the show.

7. Understand the role of your firm if a sponsor of an event.

8. Ask. Ask. Ask until you get answers that satisfy you. Your
goal is to make you the best representative for the company
you can be.

Having an understanding of the broad marketing aspects
before the show makes your firm well branded at event.

Julia O’Connor - Speaker, Author, Consultant - writes
about practical aspects of trade shows. As president of
Trade Show Training, inc,, now celebrating its 11th
year, she works with companies in a variety of
industries to improve their bottom line and marketing
opportunities at trade shows.

Julia is an expert in the psychology of the trade show
environment and uses this expertise in sales training
and management seminars. Contact her at
804-355-7800 or check the site
http://www.TradeShowTraining.com

Often times, the decision to conduct business rests on how a customer interprets your brand identity and brand promise,– a simple impression, comment, or action, perceived or real. She determines if your service or product is unique and provides the sought-after value. Without accurate articulation of your brand identity and promise, you may lose the advantage of uniqueness and potentially the sale.

What is a brand identity and why is it important?

Your brand identity is YOU, controlling all the elements that impact your company’s image, in a focused and controlled way to influence the customer. It is the promises you make to yourself, your business and potential clients. Keeping these promises will position you as unforgettable, unique and special, and form your brand identity.

Developing a brand identity is important because it impacts directly on your pocketbook and income potential. It also provides value by improving efficiency and effectiveness of your marketing; increases profitability potential; establishes competitive advantages, and builds company equity or worth.

What are 10 essential promises that create a brand identity?

• Position and Performance –- describing what your company does and for whom, and then outlining the advantages of retaining your services.

• Benefits –- presenting the client with the expected results each and every time and then over delivering.

• Traits/Value/Personality –- Determining what you want your company to be known for and then building your image around that personality?

• Segmentation, Differentiation and Added Value –- Positioning yourself in the smallest niche possible, and knowing your competitor’s activities and your customer’s attitudes.

• Relationship of Trust –- Creating and nuturing relationships through solving problems and giving.

• Loyalty –- Establishing a sustained buying habit based on a consistent and sustained relationship and product delivery.

• Brand Story –- Your personal or professional history that adds value and credibility to your brand.

• Association –- The physical artifacts associated with recognizing your brand.

• Community Services Responsibility –- Creating and fulfilling the framework of your social conscious.

• Customer Perception vs Reality –- Making sure you are who you say and believe you are is actually you.

The Brand Commitment

Your brand identity is a kaleidoscope of impressions: past and present, real and perceived, rational and emotional. Defining it requires a long term commitment and willingness to invest in understanding you, your customer and market. Rob Frankel, author of Revenge of Brand X, wrote “…Branding is not about getting your targets to choose you over your competition. Branding is about getting your prospects to see you as the only solution to their problem.” Peter F. Drucker said, “…The aim of marketing is to know and understand the customer so well the product or service fits him and sells itself.” Creating a concise brand identity and promises allows you to develop products and services that sell themselves because they are relevant, distinct and memorable.

Without a definitive brand identity and promise, you will be lost in the global sea of competitiveness. Being different may be the determining factor in the decision-making process. Set yourself above the rest in your industry and reap the rewards of uniqueness by creating a brand identity and promises that get results and positively impacts your income.

Sharon Williams is the president and CEO of The 24 Hour Secretary, a full-service Virtual Assisting practice; a marketing coach, and author of Nuts & Bolts of Branding: How to Identify Your Brand in a Niche Market. Nuts & Bolts (http://www.the24hoursecretary.com/nuts-bolts.htm) is stocked with branding strategies, exercises and quizzes that crystalize your brand promises and separates you from competitors. Subscribe to her ezine Smart Business = Success, stocked with tips for busy professionals and visit her blog for up-to-date marketing strategies and other business tips, located at http://www.the24hoursecretary.com