What basketball has to do with your business and how you use social media

March 31, 2011

Twitter #UDrise Screen shot 2011-03-31 Here’s what I learned by spending the day on a college campus today, listening to college and pro basketball legend Bill Walton tell many of the smartest investment bankers and finance students how the lessons he learned in sports apply in their world.

The day’s lessons also apply to businesses that use social media to meet, connect and communicate with customers. Here’s how:

Walton played at UCLA for another legend, coach John Wooden, who Walton reminded the financial education conference participants, taught him that it’s never about how good a performer you are individually. It’s always about how good your team is.

The take-away for businesses is that they should not rely on one person to handle all of the duties on Twitter, Facebook, Linkedin, YouTube and where ever else the company needs to reach customers and partners. Can’t be done, not if you want to improve, grow and attract more friends, fans and followers. Read the rest of this entry »


Why your business marketing plan should include social media to be heard above competitors

February 22, 2011

Chris Jensen, president of Audio Concepts in Bath, OhioChris Jensen has a simple idea that is really tough for many of us to pull off well.

“When 60 seconds just isn’t enough, podcasting is the innovative way to be heard,” Chris says.

He ought to know. He’s worked in radio and TV for years, and his business at Audio Concepts in Bath, Ohio, is to help businesses sound their best. Read the rest of this entry »


Talk with your customers with podcasts so they can hear you when they’re ready

January 31, 2011

Business owners frequently tell me that they’re uncomfortable with making decisions about what to say to customers online. They want to use Facebook or a blog but they don’t know what to write about. And they’re certainly not about to get in front of a camera to talk about their products or services and then share it on YouTube.

But customers want information they can use to solve a problem or answer a question today. They’re looking for tips, advice and insights that will help them. Businesses that provide that information — and do so without direct sales pitches — can build relationships with customers. Help them today and put yourself in position to do business when the customers are ready for you.Chris Jensen, president of Audio Concepts, talks about using podcasts for business

Customers also want information in a format that is immediate and easy to digest and in a format that they prefer. Podcasts allow your customers and potential customers to hear, in your own voice, the attributes and benefits of working with your company, says Chris Jensen, president of Audio Concepts in Bath, Ohio. And sometimes it’s just easier for a business owner to share information by talking about what they know and do in business. Read the rest of this entry »