WordPress, YouTube, Twitter, Facebook, flickr, MySpace...

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What is Social Media?

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AND as a business, how do we best use it?

Comment below.

We will post and recognize the best response soon.

Someone told me we were a social media company.  I thought we were a media company.  I guess I need more definition and clarity on what Social Media really is…

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find or follow or both

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JAWAR COMICS

(Hypothetical situation)

Meet Alan, a gentle small business owner who runs a modest comic book shop in the Vinings area called JaWar comics.  Alan loves what he does and has been around for over ten years, running a highly successful comic book shop.  Interacting with his customers, catching up on news from his favorite artists and his first cup of coffee are all Alan needs to get himself through the day.  However, business is way down, and its been down for months. Traditional advertising seems to be failing him.  His normal ads in newspapers, billboards  don’t seem to be working.  His overall numbers are way down.  Of course he has heard of “social media” from some of his customers but thinks its all “weird” and hard to understand, however he has messed around with it some and likes to keep with his favorite artists. Besides, Alan is plain old school and believes in a firm handshake an honest day’s work.  However Alan needs a solution, and needs one fast or his beloved comic book shop is going to close down.  Alan needs your marketing help, Help Alan THRIVE!

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What would you suggest?

The best solution voted by our volunteer staff gets posted next week, with a link back to the website of your choosing,  AND you will be awarded the opportunity to come as a guest on ThriveAMERICA. Be sure to “Subscribe to Post”.

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Thank you for your interest in being a guest on ThriveAMERICA!  ThriveAMERICA is a powerful blog based video program designed to help others thrive in this economy, pure and simple.  We strive to introduce content that someone can walk away and apply in their business lives, right away. Your coming on the show would be a sign of good faith that you are ready to share your experience, strength and hope so that others may gain from your expertise.  We have seen that people are THIRSTY for solutions, answers and tools for this new economy.  If you hit on relevant subject matter and show passion, your solutions could reach thousands of people!  Your show may be the one that could help hundreds if not thousands of people thrive.  Past guests have enjoyed tremendous organic growth on the search engines, warm leads, actual business and higher creditability.  ThriveAMERICA can be a powerful marketing tool for your business. Please take a moment to review and answer the questions below.

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INTAKE FORM

These questions will help us both determine if ThriveAMERICA is the right fit and not to be taken lightly.  Many of the questions below are the same that would be asked of you on the show and much of what you write down we may use to fill into your blog.  Thanks in advance for taking the time to fill this out. Once you fill these questions out you will be sent the ThriveAMERICA packet.

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SHOW GOOD FAITH

As an act of good faith that will be an active participant in our thriving community we ask that you comment on at least five past blogs on the ThriveAMERICA site.  The comment icon is located next to the video player, press it and it will showcase where you need to go.  This will build good karma and past guests will become introduced to you.

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FIVE to THRIVE

FIVE to THRIVE heart and soul of the show and puts you in the hot seat sort to speak. We ask you to dig deep an unearth five ways to thrive in this economy particular to your expertise or your industry. Below you need to develop compelling headlines that introduce each tactic. In the interview you will want to start by outlining the problem then going into your FIVE to THRIVE.  We can’t wait to see what you reveal.

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MARKETING your BLOG

To keep the video production at no cost to you we rely on advertising.  Currently this is done through google adsense, past guests who advertise and other resources.  So this community needs to know what you will do to market and promote your blog post.   What you put down is what we will send out to our potential advertisers to see if they may be interested in advertising on your blog post, so think carefully of what you put down. In the form you will be asked to come up with six ways you will do this.  In the meantime please support our current advertisers by clicking on their respective banners and checking out what they have to offer.

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POTENTIAL

Another avenue we are now exploring is guest partnerships.  This would entail developing more material that end users could purchase and revenue is split between Blank Stage and guest.  For example your five to thrive my answer some questions but some guests may want more.  We would work deeper and develop content that would feature information from both of us and create an online shopping cart to download this information.

TOP VIEW LEADERBOARD

You may also notice the ThriveAMERICA leaderboard.  This is the board that showcases those with the most views on their blog.  In order to get on the leader-board you must crack the top four.  members of the leader board enjoy link backs to their particular blog and maybe a little bragging rights.

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SHOW FORMAT

The format of the interviews has changed to a meaner, sexier and shorter format.  Once we receive and approve your interview content and marketing tactics you will be scheduled for your interview.  Once on set we will rehearse the content you provided.  This rehearsal does no way mean the they is scripted or you have to memorize the information.  It is a way to drill down and edify the content in your mind. Many times we have avoided information that is simply unneeded.  This is not the format where you will discuss your background but rather focus on your tactics on how to thrive.   The blog portion will feature your background and contact information.

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IMPROVE?

One question we will ask you on the show is how can we improve what we are trying to do with ThriveAMERICA.  This question is consistent with each guest and is becoming quite popular.  We are not perfect and this is your chance to help us in ways of presentation, marketing, technology, overall messaging, etc that we are sending out.

LIVE NETWORKING

ThriveAMERICA networking events. Four times a year we host a live networking event for all past and future guests of ThriveAMERICA. This is a tremendous way to  become a resource to others.  This is not a time to help yourself but to rather help others.  Our community consist of those in the angel investing community, social media world, finance department, marketing, business operations, starting a business, film industry, acting and more… How many people can you help?

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INSIDE INFO

Once you are a guest you will receive weekly to bi-weekly updates on the production of the show.  Everything from analytics, what’s new and good to info on coming guests.

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NEXT STEP

Once we see that you are active in our community with your comments, our board is confident in your marketing steps and your answers tell us you are prepared to help others thrive then we will schedule your interview.  We will be in touch through a phone call or email.

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find or follow or both

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1. PASSION

   Do you hate getting up and going to work?  Might be time for a change. A trend a lot of guests talk about is having passion.  Have a love, a zeal for what it is you do is key to thrive in this economy.  There will be days when you will want to give up and many you will if you do not believe in the product you are selling.  You will fall back on this passion time and time again.  It will allow you to mold and attach your business to the ever changing times.

2. TEST AND MEASURE

   Ask people if they would pay for this product or service.  Share your ideas to those whose opinion you can trust.  Call people on the phone and make sure people would pay for it.   Stage a beta website.  Research potential competitors. Test the interest of your product or service on your future target market.

3. PLAN BUSINESS

   Develop a serious business plan for your business, this will be your road map.  Draw out what your mission statement is, your marketing plan, how much you want to make and then  develop execution strategies to get there.  A good place to start is with a business coach ActionCOACH or go to the “Score” office, or simply look at sample ones online.   Follow a tested business plan model and emulate it.  This can take a long time to flesh out, but do the work.  Don’t just start writing.   Make sure to study and research a handful of business plans out there.

4. BUILD YOUR TEAM

   Don’t expect to do this by yourself.  Build your support system, your team.  Ask leaders in the community to join your team.  Create a diverse group of people that are dedicated to help you succeed. Attract people who have different skill sets then you.  A marketing guru, a financial wizard, a computer guy are some quick examples.  Have weekly team meetings and set goals.  Dream BIG and take ACTION.

5. MARKET

   Don’t expect anyone to just find you because your idea is so brilliant.  Take the opposite approach, assume that no one will.  Get people talking about your business.  Do that through creative video, events, attractive flyers and graphics, a funnel website, etc. Take advantage of all the free social media tools available to you.

6. Top Views on ThriveAMERICA | Click on Thumbnail to View the Interview

   These past guests, in order of standings, are getting the most views for their past appearances on ThriveAMERICA. Click on their picture and see why!

   LEADERSHIP

   We are only as good as our leader. You have to be a leader to in order to thrive.  Associate yourself with other leaders in your community by joining networking groups like your local chamber of commerce, BNI and PowerCore.  Establish goals for your team and lead by example but be the ultimate accountability partner.

7. ACCOUNTABLITY

   Be accountable to yourself and do what you say you are going to do, build trust and then repeatable business. Is your team not preforming?  Might be time to ask them how things are going and think of ways they can achieve there goals.

8. BE A RESOURCE

   Are you huddled in your cave working by yourself. When I ask guests how we can thrive in this economy you would be surprised how many respond by telling that you have to learn how to become a resource to others.  Connect other people together. This also seen as “Giver’s Gain”, “The Golden Rule” and “reciprocity”. Connect two people you know could do business with each other, and do so without any hidden agenda.  Do it! A quick idea, go on LinkedIn and spend some time writing powerful testimonials for other people you have done business with.

9. SOCIAL MEDIA

   Jump in on the social media bandwagon, align with your personal brand.  Spend some time with an expert in this area for a local networking event and ask how to do it.  Many times if we are going to do business with owe are going to research who you are and use Google.  You have to have a strong online presence. A great place to start is a powerful bio and a professional head shot.

10. CLIP ART IS BAD
    

    You have to stand out. You have to find ways to stand out.  Be unique.   Focus on HOW you provide great customer service not THAT you provide great customer service. Design a killer brochure.  Design a killer business card.  Say new things.  Host creative events.
    

11. REFERRAL PROGRAM
    

    Get a referral program in place. When people refer to you, those people tend to shop you less.  You have a much better shot of getting the right price point. The more money you can per transaction the better.  Be sure to ASK for the referral, people may assume you don’t need any more business and won’t refer you.  Establish a unique and tailored referral program.  Reward those that send you business. Host highly creative events, get in front of people and fight like mad connect those that come with each other.  People like coming to these kinds of events.   The more you can leverage your contact list in one room will better serve you and your community.

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Welcome to the ThriveAMERICA fan feedback form.  Use this form as way to make contact with us. So make contact with us!

You could tell us what professional issues you are struggling with.  What keeps you up at night? What strategy are you seeing great success with?

OR…

You could take a moment, and tell us what YOU want to see more of…  tell us what you want to see less of.

Have a questions for a particular guest?  Many times they will answer questions you leave for them on the show you saw them on, under the comment section, unique for each show.  You can see the comment icon next to the video player. To see all past guests go to the ThriveAMERICA show directory.

Use the form below for any purpose you see fit.

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AUDIENCE in TARGET

ThriveAMERICA targets a unique audience; those looking to grow their businesses, those looking to receive valuable tips on new technologies and those looking to see what the latest business trends are, among others.  Each guests brings with them a new community of viewers and fans to the site.

ACT NOW

Advertisers will be featured on video blogs of their choosing starting at the bargain rate of $75 and lasting for six months.  Currently  we are receiving 40-100 unique views a day, and this number is growing.  Your banner ad will be featured right below the video player for the next six months.  This offer will not last.  Act now!  Once we get your bid it will hold for five days, if after those five days your bid is the highest your banner will be posted on the site.

SPONSOR the WEBSITE

We are also looking for ThriveAMERICA sponsorships.  This website sponsor will be receive a “ThriveAMERICA brought to you by YOUR COMPANY” plug, on the ThriveAMERICA banner header.

To advertise on a past video blog please visit the directory and let us know which video blog you would like to advertise on.

New Guests. We are actively seeking new and exciting guests to be featured on ThriveAMERICA.  Please drop us a line if you think you may be interested.  Email us at Brent(at)blankstageproductions.com

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Upcoming guests are:

Jason Prance & Unique Be’Ans Mba

Erikka Tiffani Smith & Larkin Dailey

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Top Views on ThriveAMERICA | Click on Thumbnail to View the Interview

These past guests, in order of standings, are getting the most views for their past appearances on ThriveAMERICA. Click on their picture and see why!

ThriveAMERICA

Show Directory

Welcome to the online ThriveAMERICA show directory.  It is a work in progress.  For now it is a comprehensive list of all the past shows we have produced, in no real order.  Order will soon be coming.

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Acting

Karli G. Brooks    | http://thriveamerica.com/video/karligbrooks

Banding

David Cohen   |  http://thriveamerica.com/video/davidcohen

Social Media/ Marketing

Russell Fair    | http://thriveamerica.com/video/blogging
Scott Dunn    | http://thriveamerica.com/video/scottdunn
Sean Nelson    | http://thriveamerica.com/video/nelson
Jawar    | http://thriveamerica.com/video/jawar
Todd Schnick    | http://thriveamerica.com/video/toddschnick
Jay Kapp    | http://thriveamerica.com/video/jaykapp
Chris Spears    | http://thriveamerica.com/video/chrisspears
Dee Doanes    | http://thriveamerica.com/video/deedoanes
Chad Massaker    | http://thriveamerica.com/video/chadmassaker
Teo Graca    | http://thriveamerica.com/video/teograca
Lisa Blackstone   |  http://thriveamerica.com/video/lisablackstone
Charles Fellingham    | http://thriveamerica.com/video/charlesfellingham

Business Leadership

Alan Urech    | http://thriveamerica.com/video/brandonmiltsch
Prince Niyyar    | http://thriveamerica.com/video/princeniyyar2
Rick Crain    | http://thriveamerica.com/video/rickcrain
Chris Heuser    | http://thriveamerica.com/video/chrisheuser2
Tim Langley    | http://thriveamerica.com/video/drtimlangley
Marvin Woods    | http://thriveamerica.com/video/chefmarvinwoods
Wayne Kurzen    | http://thriveamerica.com/video/kurzen
John Hollner    | http://thriveamerica.com/video/johnhollner
Erica Parker    | http://thriveamerica.com/video/ericaparker
Don Rigby    | http://thriveamerica.com/video/donrigby
George Ishee    | http://thriveamerica.com/video/georgeishee

Finance

Mark Wyssbrod    | http://thriveamerica.com/video/buildliquidity
Graham Wickham    | http://thriveamerica.com/video/grahamwickham

Selling

Mark Walker    | http://thriveamerica.com/video/markwalker

PR

Susan Asher    | http://thriveamerica.com/video/susanasher

Network Marketing

David Alexander    | http://thriveamerica.com/video/davidalexander
Kal Wayman    | http://thriveamerica.com/video/kalwayman
Brandon Miltsch    | http://thriveamerica.com/video/brandonmiltsch

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Inventing

Dave Savage    | http://thriveamerica.com/video/savage
Ron Reardon    | http://thriveamerica.com/video/ronreardon

Social Graces

Gace Lee    | http://thriveamerica.com/video/gracelee

Innovation

Stone Payton    | http://thriveamerica.com/video/stonepayton

Franchise Advice

Bill King    | http://thriveamerica.com/video/billking

Venture Catalyst

Bob Farris    | http://thriveamerica.com/video/bobfarris

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Upcoming Guests: Lisa Blackstone, Bob Littell, David Alexander

10 Killer Secrets to Developing a Powerful Business

The following is a listing of 10 Killer Secrets that will help you develop a powerful business. They are not in order of importance because I see them as equally important to business growth.

· Develop a stellar Advisory Board across functional levels

This is not a Board of Directors (BOD), which is a legal entity with potential liability. Advisory Boards are a must to grow strong businesses. As business owners we get very wrapped up with what we ourselves think is important and forget that there are other ways for business growth. We are products of our own life’s business experiences but should understand that other people have diverse experiences that may be more relevant to the situation at hand and we should embrace those experiences to grow our businesses intelligently. Advisory Boards should be set up along functional business parameters and members chosen for their experiences within those functions. Operations, Sales, Marketing, Finance, Legal, Human Resources, Product/Services are some of the different functional areas the slots you should have solid focused and seasoned professionals represented on your Advisory Board.

· Understand the Management’s strengths and weaknesses

As managers we all have our strengths…and our “challenges”. This is the way it is and we must understand what they are and make sure that our management team has representative diverse views. Some managers see no dangers and charge ahead with programs while others may be more hesitant and see the positives and the negatives of the movement. Whether you are optimistic, a risk-taker, can rally the troops and engage others, are traditional and hard-working with a strong focus on quality, detail and precision or can build trust and help others, you need to know your business personality “gifts”. Embrace them. Brownell Landrum at DrawSuccess (www.DrawSuccess.com) has some very interesting methodologies for you to access your strengths and weaknesses.

· Grow the Business methodically

In Six Disciplines for Excellence Gary Harpst states that most businesses do not succeed because they are not grown methodically. Something always gets in the way of a business’s methodical growth path. I believe that if you establish upfront some solid and non changing parameters like “Monday mornings 9:30am we are having a management meeting and reviewing operational issues that affect the business”, most of the time you will succeed. Don’t deviate from that plan. Keep it simple and formal on a Project Management type electronic or paper template and make sure that everyone one is accountable weekly for the action items that they said they would complete. Have firm dates and if the task is not completed by that date, make sure that the whole team knows why. This takes a couple of weeks to instill but the company’s president must be vigilant and hold his/her management team accountable for the actions they have agreed to accomplish.

· Be very focused on what your business is…and is not. Understand what is important to you…and your business

Strong businesses must understand what their market opportunity is and then focus their organizations on their core competency within that opportunity. Know your opportunity and then exploit it. This does not mean that you can’t have adjacent products and services that improve your core offering. You can. For example, if you are in video productions and your first product is traditional movies, it does not mean that you can’t go into some adjacent product lines like commercials or promotional pieces. Just treat this as an adjacent product line. The core product is still video productions. Do an “elevator” pitch of 15 words or less about what your business is. An example might be “North Atlanta Networks, Inc, develops, markets and services high technology turnkey satellite, terrestrial, wireless and VoIP network solutions to business and government customers.” Or “The Medical Group is a provider of all-inclusive turnkey management solutions to meet the increasingly complex technology needs of physician practices”. Also understand what your personal goals as a manager are. What you will do and what you will not do. Each organization should have a posted Vision Statement, a Mission Statement and a Values Statement.

· Focus on Sales and Marketing, not on the products or services

Once your product or service offering is “complete” or Version 1 is complete, shift your human and monetary resources to sales and marketing. Most companies have a very difficult time crossing over the chasm from a Research and Development organization into a Sales and Marketing business that can commercialize your product and make you money. Understand that your product/service will never be done because our world is in constant change mode. Put a “stake” in the ground to when your resources will be focused on sales and marketing. At this point, 90% should be spent on Sales and Marketing and 10% on R&D.

To market your product use “Groundswell” techniques. Charlene Li and Josh Bernoff wrote a great book on using new technology tools to market your products by getting a social network “buzz” about them and then when people come to your website, they will be “warm” prospects. Much easier than cold calling. Free social networking technology tools like LinkedIn (an online network of more than 25 million experienced professionals from around the world, representing 150 industries, www.linkedin.com), Flickr (online photo management, www.flickr.com), Wordpress (blogging, http://wordpress.com), FaceBook (social network, www.facebook.com), Twitter (social networking and microblogging service utilizing instant messaging, SMS or a web interface, http://.twitter.com), Del.icio.us (social bookmarking, http://delicious.com), Digg.com (discover and share content by tagging, http://digg.com), Wikipedia (online free encyclopedia that anyone can add to and edit, www.wikipedia.com), Add This (Social Bookmarking that adds content everywhere, www.addthis.com), Ping (a website that makes updating your social networks a snap, www.ping.fm) and Second Life (virtual world, www.secondlife.com). To measure and monitor your blogs and online discussion groups use TNS Cymfony (http://www.cymfony.com), Nielsen BuzzMetrics (http://www.nielsenbuzzmetrics.com), and Google analytics (improving your understanding about where your website visitors come from to better utilize your marketing dollars, http://www.google.com/analytics/). It is easy to do and will gain you great exposure.

· Work with people that are Compatible

Life is too short to work with people that you don’t like or are not compatible. Surround yourself with people that have similar values that you do so that in addition to just “working” in the business that you sometimes get together in social events to understand each other as fellow human beings with personalities, families, attitudes, biases and needs. I think this is critical for people to understand where their work companions are coming from and sometimes forgive them when you know they have had a rough day when something outside of the work place is weighing on them. Help them along and you will be stronger and happier in the business and as a person.

· Form Key Business Alliances/Partnerships/Affiliations

This is a critical component of growing a company into a strong business. Strong growing companies form alliances, partnerships and affiliations with companies and businesses that can support their growth. Once a company focuses on their business they should look for alliances and partnerships that make sense to them within their competency. Being a good partner means that when something falls outside of your core competency, you refer that business to the other organization to fulfill the customer’s needs. Customers love this and embrace this as being good corporate citizens by putting the customers’ needs above their own.

· Understand the Businesses Unique Value Propositions

When I consult with companies, I first develop with them a “Corporate Position Paper”. A CPP has three areas in it. The first section answers the question “What are the problems in the industry?” The second section answers the question “What is different and better about my products/services?” This should be about 3 bullets that include your unique value proposition that no other company can say. Remember that your unique value proposition does not include service, price or quality. No one will say that they deliver poor service, high prices or bad quality. They always have the best service, low prices and great quality. That is a given. Create your UVP on something that no one else can claim that they have like a product that does (xxx) or a service that provides this.

· Understand the Business’ Revenue and Profit model

A business must understand where they make their income. Detail by bullets the different components of where the businesses money comes from and the profit potential from each area. Once this “audit” is completed you may see that there are some areas that need to be focused on because they bring you more profit.

· Understand your Product/Service offerings

A company must understand their product lines thoroughly. It is vital to understand what the products are and what they are not. The “consultative sell” approach works wonders when the business development person first listens to the “challenges” the prospect has (what keeps them up at night) and then leverages their products and services to alleviate those challenges. They are showing an understanding of their business, a concern for the prospect’s business, and a solution to their concern. Many business development people do not understand this and subsequently do not form a relationship with the decision maker. Developing this relationship becomes capital that the strong business person can use to leverage their first product into the organization and positions them to sell additional products later on in the business cycle. I suggest a PowerPoint or something like that that outlines every product and service that you have and its value for the consumer.

I hope that these 10 Killer Secrets have helped you understand some business “Secrets” that can help you to significantly grow your business. Being methodical with great management focused toward your growth is the core, understanding your value proposition and then understanding where you make your money.