Here goes… my first attempt at video. I thought it would be a great idea to introduce you to the seminar series I am creating for 2011 called “Creating the Business You Want”. There has been a lot of interest and many questions. We have some dates scheduled for January & February and I will have more details on what’s coming soon.
There will be one seminar before the new year in Cambridge Ontario on Monday November 29th.
As I put together content for my seminars a number of themes keep coming up.
Many Small Businesses are at a Crossroads
Technology gives us so many choices from software apps, smart phones, laptops, book readers, web tools & social media networks. We are bombarded with a constant stream of new innovations and ideas that can easily distract us from the important work of running our business.
In the last 10 years there has been a constant rise in the information we all receive; emails, text messages, tweets, phone calls, invitations to join this group or that group; it can feel stressful and overwhelming at the best of times. If you are starting a small business one important lesson; learn to minimize your distractions and focus on the projects critical for your business.
An Introduction to Creating the Business You Want
This seminar series is designed to provide a foundation for how to start your business; that is if you are new. If you have been in business for a few years, you will gain more insight on how to successfully run your business. You will learn how technology and social media can help grow your community, learn to build products better suited and packaged for your audience, define your goals; and come up with an action plan that lets you take your business to the next level.
Business Philosophies are Changing
Traditional business philosophy tells us to create a business plan, come up with a business name, develop products or services, build a website and then use a variety of methods designed to sell; advertising, newsletters, direct mail, etc. To ensure success you then need to network and sell; create a good value proposition (or sales pitch!).
Many small business owners go to networking events with the intent to make connections and often they try to sell toos soon. The problem with this is approach is there are too many companies and too many people selling. And worse… consumers have turned off from the sales pitch. They don’t want to be sold by you, or told how your product is going to change their life. Sorry but the sales approach (without a relationship) doesn’t work any more.
Here’s why.
The Great Clash of the 21st Century
Sales Driven versus Community Driven
Technology has made it easy for people to sell and reach large numbers of people. For the past 10 years spammers and call centers have made billions of dollars targeting you and I with sales pitches. For spammers their philosophy is, if I spam a million people and find just one customer then I’m successful. Relationships are not important – they just want money. Email is inexpensive and easy. Spammers take selling to the extreme.
Today, Internet Marketers do the same thing. They spam you with tweets, text messages and try to interrupt you whenever they can with their sales pitch. The problem is many of these people call themselves social media experts. Between you and me, they’re not really experts. They are just spammers (in disquise) who have found new technologies to annoy people.
75% of Businesses are NOT Using Social Media
Too much selling and not enough community building; that is the problem with social media today. It is one of the reasons why 75% of businesses are not using social media. And of the 25% who are involved, a good number of these are giving sales pitches rather than creating value or building community.
In the 20th century, sales driven companies ruled the world. Companies like Microsoft, IBM, GM and thousands of large and small businesses, built their wealth by marketing, advertising and selling. However, it’s much harder to sell today. In fact, the companies having he most influence in the 21st century are those that are community driven. Companies like Facebook, YouTube, Twitter and Google. These are companies who have built the framework for community. Their technologies help us to build relationships, create our own communities and establish trust and loyalty around our business, our products or services or our cause.
In my workshops I show entrepreneurs how to become community minded when they build their business. I strip social media down to the simple model of understanding relationships, tribes and communities. Then I show examples of small businesses who are using these methods successfully to attract and retain loyal customers.
My goal is to help make the technologies less confusing and guide business owners to make better decisions. During the workshop we put together a simple plan that is different for each business. Some entrepreneurs haven’t gone through the planning process and they need help getting started. Others need to focus on websites, or defining products or revenue streams. Then there is the critical tasks of building community and finding customers.
Building sales yes, but the priority is building community first.
I hope you enjoy my first video.
If you want a sneak preview into what will be offered in 2011 then be sure to register for my upcoming workshop on November 29th.
Footnote: The plan for 2011 will be to offer these workshops in a number of cities within southern Ontario. If you would like to sponsor an event in your city please email me at kevin (at) kevinboon.ca.
What is our most precious resource? I’m guessing you would say time. When I talk to most people, the biggest complaint I hear is there is not enough time. Today everyone appears to be in a rush whether working for a company, running your own business, taking care of your family or even trying to stay connected with your social network.
Stress, Technology and a little History
I remember watching a Rat Pack movie from the 60’s or 70’s. (Note: Can’t remember the episode and I’m not telling anyone if I actually was old enough to have seen the original) They would show a man in his office (usually smoking away at his desk) totally stressed out. At night he would go home and have a brandy alexander… or maybe two… or six.
The 70’s were the early days when psychologists and society began to realize that our jobs were stressful.
Then the 80’s and 90’s technology and computers were introduced. The stress got crazier. Instead of inputing 10 orders a day, my boss gave me a computer and now I could process 100.
And I thought technology was supposed to make my life easier?
Email Spam, Information Overload & Social Media
In the early part of this decade (2000 – 2004) email spam hit big time and people were introduced to what was called information overload. Inboxes became overflowing… people had difficulty keeping up. And over the past 5 years it’s been social media. There was a recent study that said, in 2008 more information was produced in that one year than in the entire history of civilization!
I’ll let that one sit with you for a minute.
Too Many Choices, Not Enough Time
There is so much information. We have so many choices and our computers, smart phones keep us connected all the time. Distractions are now a way of life. During a typical working day, we are bombarded with emails, text messages, phone calls, tweets, invitations, groups to join, sales pitches, offers or someone wanting to be my friend… it’s crazy!!
Technology has a way of either taking over your life by making you busier than ever or it can help your life (or business) by allowing you to reach more people, automate complex tasks and provide more efficient ways to earn money. Although we are embracing technology and reaping the benefits there is still an overwhelm we feel. We work hard to stay connected… and we try to do all the things that my workaholic boss or that social media guru tells me.
Unfortunately peace never comes and the to do list never ends. In our technology driven society the choices (and our distractions) keep getting bigger. Yesterday it was iPhones and Blackberry’s… today it’s iPads, Kindles, and Playbooks… tomorrow? Who knows? But I guarantee that you will want to stay in the game and keep up… it’s like keeping up with the Joneses… we feel bad if we think we’re missing out somehow.
How to Make the Right Choices
Technology and time break down at some point because there are only so many hours in the day and we are limited in the number of interactions we can have.
What technologies to choose and where to focus time are major obstacles affecting many small business owners.
Business owners don’t have the time or the bandwidth to be on every social media platform… to have every gadget. Twitter and Facebook pages start with good intentions and then they fizzle out. People get fatigued. They get real busy, or confused with all the choices. And they burn out!
So what’s the solution?
Time
Learn to focus and prioritize. Find time for the important work for your business rather than getting distracted by the noise and chatter. Plan smartly… learn to stay focused… on project critical tasks or customer initiatives. But at the same time give yourself time to connect socially. If you are engaged in social media it should feel good… it should be fun. If it’s not fun or it feels stressful then you’re doing it wrong… step back and re-think your approach.
Ask yourself am I trying to be in too many places?
Technology
Technology is another topic where I help people understand that if you are wanting to stay connected to your business 24/7 (and it’s wearing you out) then it’s time to find a different approach.
Technology should be used as a way to reach your audience and build fans or followers, stay connected and build better relationships. At the same time you can use technology to automate and improve how your business runs. There are many excellent tools. A newsletter is so simple and yet it’s something we often overlook. Running a Facebook page might take some time to plan and set up, but the actual running of the site is not that difficult. For some tasks there are benefits to Outsourcing, especially those that feel difficult. There are call centers that can help take your calls outside of business hours, or Virtual Assistants who can help with a variety of projects and make a big difference to your business.
So I will end this today… how do you feel about the time you spend on your business? How stressed to you feel? Is your time balanced? How do you decide which technologies to use? Do you feel technology helps, or hinders you?
On Monday I started my first Facebook Fan page (see the link) and I have been busy putting together content for my upcoming seminar at 10Carden Street in Guelph, Ontario on October 25th. Thank you to the 25 of you, who so far have given me a “Like” and supported me as I get this Facebook page going.
Businesses, Non-Profits, Politicians, Authors, Musicians and Students are all Welcome!
I want to make this page valuable for all of you and I thought it would be a great discussion form to talk about how to take your business to the next level. Now to clarify… when I say business this could mean your existing company… your non-profit organization or charity… your political campaign… or maybe you are a student or employee and want to start your own business down the road and want some education now to get the creative juices flowing. Maybe you are an author or musician looking for ways to get noticed and market yourself. The ideas here will be helpful for a wide range of people.
Over the next few weeks I plan to write a few short articles to give you a sense of my thought process as I create seminar and workshop content. I’m hoping at some stage we will be able to connect personally and where I can learn more about you, your business, what works for you and where some of these ideas may help. Also send me any feedback or suggestions on topics you would like covered.
Core Concepts
Before we start talking about the components of a successful business I wanted to first introduce some core concepts. These are ideas to get you thinking…and get creative. In the framework of our changing business climate I thought an introduction to these concepts would put into context some ways to approach your business.
Here is a listing of the core concepts. I’ll be covering each one of these areas over the next couple of weeks. There are 6 that I can think of right now. There may be more as the discussion evolves.
Here is the list of some of the core concepts I want to start with.
Passion
Time & Technology
Relationships
Tribes & Communities
Social Media
Support Systems
Components of a Successful Business
And here is what I have listed as some of the key components for running a business. Please note that my focus will not be so much on Business Operations (#9) because I feel operations is usually very specific to the business you have created and it’s not my specialty anyway. And I won’t say a word about Accounting or Bookkeeping (#10) because trust me — you don’t want me saying anything about money or how you manage your business finances. Maybe we will find some people who can talk to these topics.
I will talk however about creating your Personal Vision (#1), aligning that vision with your Business Vision & Plan (#2), elements for good Website(#3), Developing Products, Services and Revenue Streams (#4)… and the big one, Finding Customers (#5)… this one will take a while but I think you will enjoy some of the ideas. Another big area will be developing a Content Creation & Communications Strategy (#6)… and then finally I will focus on Technology, Tools and Automation (#7) and Outsourcing (#8).
Whew!! That’s a lot. But this is a discussion that I hope will unfold over the next few months or maybe years.
Here are the components listed for you.
Components of Creating the Business You Want
Your Personal Vision
Your Vision for your Business
Website
Products, Services & Revenue Streams
Finding Customers
Content Creation & Communications Strategy
Technology, Tools & Automation
Outsourcing
Business Operations
Bookkeeping & Accounting
So enjoy the next few days and I will keep you posted as we get started with the discussion.
Comments and your thoughts and ideas are always welcome.
The past several months have been an incredibly busy and creative time for me. Putting together my business strategy plus creating content for my seminars and workshops has required a lot of thought and creative time.
Blogging and socially connecting on Twitter, Facebook or Linkedin have been lower on my priority list although, I must say I talk to people every day. The heart of what I have been creating has really come from my conversations with people but it has also come from introspection, turning off the phone and computer and simply listening to that inner voice.
Last Months Seminar
Last month I had put together a course called Firing on All Cylinders and it was my first attempt to formulate something that could utilize my skills to really help solo entrepreneurs and small businesses. Although we had a few registrants the seminar itself did not go ahead. But the process I went through helped me to gain clarity and adjust both my message and my approach. One of the first things I changed was the name because I felt “Firing on All Cylinder” didn’t have the right feel for what I was creating.
The Open Office Concept
Back in mid-September I was looking for some office space… somewhere I could work for a few hours a day to get out of the house. A friend suggested a place in Guelph called www.10Carden.ca. 10 Carden is a not-for-profit organization that provides affordable office space and meeting rooms for small businesses and entrepreneurs.
Their approach is community minded and caters to the small business community or not profit organizations who may not have their own office space or meeting facilities.
If you want to see this approach in action goto any big city in North America or the Centre for Social Innovation in Toronto.
Virtual or home based businesses are growing at a phenomenal pace. Many of these entrepreneurs work from home. Even companies are adopting more flexible work arrangements and this is certainly a trend that will continue.
Upcoming Seminar
I wanted to give you an update on the new seminar that’s happening on October 25th at 10 Carden.
I have also started a new Facebook page that you check out!
Creating the Business You Want
An introductory seminar for YOU, the solo entrepreneur and/or small business owner.
A seminar that will leave you energized and inspired
and on the road to creating the business you’ve always wanted!
Starting or owning a small business can be challenging at the best of times. You may have a great business idea but are not sure how to get started. Then again, maybe you have been in business for a few years but now it feels stagnant, you feel stuck in your ways, needing a push to move forward, permission to do something new. Is social media and the constant influx of new technologies making you feel intimidated and stressed out? What IS social media anyway?!?
Today, millions of people are learning to use and adapt technology and social media strategies to their businesses in order to reach out to customers directly. They are learning how to grow their businesses in ways never done, or seen, before.
Creating the Business You Want is an introductory seminar designed to help you gain clear insight to some of the components needed to run a successful business. First time business owners benefit because it provides a framework for getting started and will challenge them to explore new ideas, to think outside the box, to create the business they want. Experienced entrepreneurs can use the ideas presented to take a fresh look at their business, to re-ignite their passion and find new technologies and methods that will help them attract new customers and fill in any gaps that may exist in their current business practices.
In this seminar you will learn how to…
align the vision for your business with your core values
learn the key elements to create a successful web presence
understand the psychology of relationships and learn how to reach out, build community and nurture relationships using social media
evaluate social technologies like Facebook, Linkedin and Twitter and learn how these tools can fit your specific business needs
develop a content creation strategy to engage your audience and build loyalty
network with more impact both online and in-person
manage your time more effectively, prioritize and harness technology to make your business run smoothly and efficiently
overcome fears and obstacles that can get in the way of your success
Most importantly, this seminar will leave you energized and inspired and well on the road to creating the business you’ve always wanted!
Date: Monday October 25th 2010
Place: 10 Carden Street – Guelph, Ontario
Time: 7pm – 8:30pm
Cost: FREE
Includes a complimentary copy of the cd, Creating the Business You Want
I’m excited to announce my first workshop for solo entrepreneurs and small business owners.
This workshop came about as an idea back in the spring of 2010 when I began networking with some of the small business groups where I live (Kitchener-Waterloo-Cambridge & Guelph, Ontario). Originally I was planning to start my own consulting business and provide services for medium to large fortune 500 companies.
But as I talked to entrepreneurs, something inspired me. I was blown away by their stories. Small business owners tend to have a larger purpose and vision for their life. They see having their own business as a way to create more freedom and live a much fuller and richer life. They usually have a great deal of passion and love for what they do. Over the past 8 or 9 months I have been so impressed with the stories that I wanted to find a way to help.
As I asked more questions I learned about the challenges faced by entrepreneurs. How do I find more customers is a big one. When I brought up social media, most would have interest, but they knew very little about how to make it work successfully for their business.
The other challenge facing business owners is time. Time to be able to commit resources to explore new technologies, learn new business building skills, new networking approaches and use social media effectively.
Hence the workshop.
IS YOUR BUSINESS FIRING ON ALL CYLINDERS?
A workshop for solo entrepreneurs and small business owners…
Owning a small business can be challenging at the best of times. Often we have great skills with our service or product offering, but we may lack technical knowledge or business or marketing experience. Social Media has added a whole new dimension to the skill set required to run a successful business.
Today millions of people are adapting technology and social media strategies to reach customers directly. Firing on all Cylinders is a workshop designed to help solo entrepreneurs and small business owners navigate the waters of technology, sales, marketing and social media.
In this workshop you will learn how to…
Establish your image and learn how to create a successful web presence.
Evaluate social media technologies like Facebook, Linkedin and Twitter and learn how to successfully create relationships and build community.
Network more effectively, both online and in-person.
Overcome your own personal fears and obstacles that hinder your success.
Manage time more effectively and leverage technology for maximum impact.
Develop an outline to move your business towards future growth.
Date: Sunday September 19th 2010
Location: Whispering Willows – 76 Regina Street North, Waterloo, Ontario
Companies both large and small, are grapling with how to use social technologies within their business. Some have made the mistake of jumping off the cliff too early, only to realize there are no sales and there are rocks at the bottom. For this reason, some companies stay away like the plague, frustrated by this mysterious technology which seems to threaten their business.
Yet there are a growing number of companies (large and small) using social technologies to build their brand, their business reputation and increase sales.
The two main challenges for any business are bandwidth and relevancy. Most business owners will say, our employees are already maxed to the limit. We don’t have time, or the bandwidth to support a blog or Twitter. The other challenge is relevancy. Do these technologies really help my business or are they time wasters?
Let’s talk about each of these challenges and how to work through them.
Bandwidth
Companies exist in fast paced, highly competitive marketplace. Most employees seem to work harder than ever, and from layoffs and cutbacks they have seen their workloads increase. If you’re a manager, executive or employee, how do you incorporate a blog, Twitter or Linkedin if you are so busy handling the other demands of your job?
Relevancy
The other question is relevancy. How is Twitter really going to help my business? Laying it out for employees without a policy or strategy can be disasterous. For small businesses you can waste a lot of time (time taken away from earning money) if not thought out effectively.
Here are 4 Tips for Getting through the Bandwidth and Relevancy Issues
Learning & Research – Read up on those who are using social tools and getting results. Better yet look for examples in your industry. Be careful of not getting caught up in the hype, but look for clear examples of people who are getting results. If you can, make connections and ask lots of questions. What strategies do they use? How do they manage their time? What can you learn? Here is an example of a chiropractor, Dr. Patrick MacNamara, using social tools to build his business. I’ll guarantee you will find someone or some company in your industry using these tools.
Develop a Listening Strategy First – Although this is part of research I feel it’s an important point on its own. Chris Brogan, who consults for many fortune 500 companies says, developing a listening strategy first. He says it better than I can in these two posts. (Starting a Social Media Strategy & Five Tools I Use for Listening)
Develop a Business Strategy – For larger companies, developing a good corporate policy is important. Defining your goals for social media are critical. For small businesses it’s about defining your goals and being smart with your time. Plan your day and give your self a few hours per day (or per week) to learn some of the social tools.
Play Smart – Through your research and testing you can start to make decisions where to play in the social space. With thousands of social networks, you can’t be everywhere at once. Spend some time, find out where your customers are and go to them. Focus on one or two platforms, especially if your time is limited. Later you can find ways to automate or be in multiple places at once.
There is barrage of hype around the term “social media”. Everybody is writing about it, tweeting about it, spamming about it, and a lot of people are trying to determine how they use it for their business.
The other day, I mentioned social media as being a useful method to connect with customers or business partners. My colleague politely said, “It is more hype than fact! It really doesn’t substitute for selling or promoting your business. It’s a time waster.”
We talked a little more about about his thoughts and that was the end of it. But the conversation made me think.
What does social media mean to me? Do I use the term too loosely?
Social Media (in my view) is a component of a larger business strategy.
The way I see it there are 3 main factors:
Web Tools that enhance productivity
Sharing technologies to enable you to be part of a community and be in multiple places at once (leverage).
Communication technologies that allow you to better reach within your community.
How do you define social media? Is there a better term?
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