The Illusion of Stability
Filed under: Social Business - Strategy & Networking
Seth Godin outlines the pace of marketing and the idea of an stability in marketing in his most recent book, Tribes. Here is a brief quote:
“Stability is an illusion.
Marketing changed the idea of stability. It’s human nature. We still assume the world is stable, still assume that Google will be #1 in five years, and that we’ll type on keyboards, and fly on airplanes, that China will keep growing, and that the polar icecap won’t really be melted in six years. And we’re wrong.
We’re wrong because the dynamics of marketing and storytelling, and the incessant drumbeat of advertising, have taught us to be restless in the face of stability and the internet just amplifies this lesson…Today the market wants change. The market demands change.” -Seth Godin, Tribes, audiobook 24:24
Marketing is changing every day.
Consumers resist push marketing in favor of direct communication. Marketing is more entwined with technology. If you get lazy and stop learning – or mistakenly believe business will return to normal – your business will become obsolete.
It’s no surprise some of you are intimidated. A slew of new technologies and growth of the online social networking channel has left many paralyzed with uncertainty.
There will never be a time when you understand everything. You must start learning and implementing today because marketing will never be the same again.
If you need help or direction, contact me. I’m booking well into January now.
Economic Slowdowns Are Opportunities
Filed under: Social Business - Strategy & Networking
People are scared.
Economic slow-downs are scary things. Individuals and businesses are tightening their belts. Evaluating expenses. Cutting costs.
Typically marketing is one of the first line items to see cuts during economic hard times. Independent contractors, small businesses, large firms – they all lean toward restricting advertising, marketing and public relation costs when money is tight.
Smart business owners recognize a recession is the best and least expensive time to gain market share when competitors are hunkering down.
Maintained visibility translates into:
- recognition
- familiarity
- trust.
Online Marketing – Why Now?
Consumer attitude toward advertising has shifted. We have become adept at avoiding interruption marketing.
We want open, honest, transparent communication – on our terms, at our pace.
The online social medium is less expensive than other channels, easier to measure, and gaining importance daily.
Are you in position to communicate as the economic slow-down pushes social media tools into the mainstream?
Is fear holding you back?
What’s Missing in Your Life?
Filed under: Personal Days - Blues and Coffee Breaks
Grab a cuppa coffee, kick up your feet and reflect… What’s Missing in Your Life?
From “Wellsprings of Wisdom” by Ralph Woods comes this story:
A successful businessman was invited to address a group of young executives on the subject of opportunities. He began his talk by tacking to the wall a big sheet of white paper and placing a black dot in the middle of the sheet. “What do you see?” he asked, pointing to the paper on the wall. “A black spot,” called out everyone in the audience. “Yes, I see a black dot too,” replied the speaker, “but none of you saw the much greater expanse of white. This is the point of my talk on opportunities.”
While it is so easy to focus on the “black dots” – the immediate tasks that face us each day – how often do you grasp the opportunities that no one else notices in the white space?
Don’t answer that you haven’t the time to notice the white space.
Do you ever find yourself daydreaming? When you do, you’re visiting that white space.
The question is: Do you recognize your ability to bring those daydreams to fruition?
Look around you.
Do you find yourself envying what others accomplish?
Perhaps you can learn from their example.
All they have done is to act on their dreams – to recognize the value of their white space and put it into motion.
So – what’s missing in your life?
Why not try filling in the blanks – the white spaces – with the achievement of your dreams? Maybe a legal pad and pencil can help.
Try making a list of every dream you’ve ever had. Write them all down, all of them. When you finish, place an asterisk next to the five you would most like to accomplish or experience.
Finally, make those five items the “black dots” upon which you will focus until completed. Once identified, it becomes much easier to concentrate your attention on them.
Opportunity knocks!
