Business 2 Community » Karen Pryor

Think You Don’t Need to be Socially Accepted? Think Again

Karen Pryor — Fri, 24 Sep 2010 12:00:56 +0000

If you’re like most of us, you are not comfortable with change. Sure, we like to think we are flexible and can adapt to whatever comes our way. But if we’re truthful with ourselves and admit change is hard, it’s much easier to make those adjustments. Of course, one of the biggest adjustments we need to make is with Social Media. Why do we need it? But I don’t get it? I can’t fit it in! I just don’t see what good it will do for my business, and so on. If you uttered any one of those statements or something similar, you will want to watch this:

Social Media is here to stay. The format may change as the tech world evolves but it’s a given, this may one day be one of the best way to reach our targeted audience. If you are still feeling overwhelmed, go to a seminar or workshop and find out more about it. But whatever you decide to do in the Social Media realm, make sure you treat it like you would any other form of marketing. Remember why the platform was created, how the customer uses it and what they expect to see delivered via that particular platform. Make sure you are consistent with your delivery and speak their language – what’s important to them, what’s relevant. And of course, collect your data.

Author: Karen Pryor – President of Pryor2 Marketing. She is an award winning and creative problem solver with more than 10 years experience of high level project and client management, including initiating, developing and presenting campaigns which help national and international clients reach goals that are essential to the company’s growth.

Branding – What Tools Do I Need To Have?

Karen Pryor — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 11:27:29 +0000

We all get excited and nervous when we hear about a new social media tool or tech-based tool. Do I need that one? Should I start using this tool? How will I use that tool? The question you should be asking yourself is “Does my audience use these tools?” If you answered yes, then you definitely need that tool in your marketing tool box. If you answered no, you may not need it right away, but you shouldn’t count it out just yet. It may be the one area you can use to beat out your competition. Be creative whatever your decision. But above all else, remember the primary reason that tool was developed and keep your content and offerings in the same context.

When deciding on how you want to communicate to your audience, ask yourself, “How do they want to hear from me?” There are statistics showing which medium each generation and or gender prefers to use. That should be your guiding baseline. Here is an example of Facebook stats . Once you decide on a method, stick with it. Frequency is a must. Just like exercise, if you want to see results, you need to keep doing it. Just when you are tired of hearing it, your audience is just starting to listen. Be patient, be dedicated and be pro-active.

Branding – What Language Do You Speak?

Karen Pryor — Thu, 19 Aug 2010 11:17:09 +0000

We are all excited to tell people about our business, what we do, how it works and the benefits of using our products or services. But it’s equally important to choose the proper words. Speak the language of your audience and not the language of your industry. We tend to speak in industry terms when explaining what we do or have to offer. Start to focus on words that your audience can relate to - words that they understand and can identify with in relation to their own needs.

Try to avoid tossing out industry terms that require an explanation. We only have a few minutes to grab their attention. Be audience specific and solution oriented, using words that they speak every day. Instead of trying to dazzle them with your vocabulary, impress them with your ability to solve their problems.

You want to speak to them, not at them. And remember, each marketing vehicle will determine the appropriate content. If you absolutely have to speak in “terms”, try driving them to your web site for a more in-depth understanding or invite them to pick up the phone and talk to a representative.

Remember, first impressions need to be quick and the trick is to hold their attention long enough to get them to understand what you can provide for them. Then, of course, how do you stay in front of them once you have their attention? More on that later.

Branding – Negative Feedback Wanted!

Karen Pryor — Mon, 02 Aug 2010 11:22:13 +0000

Everyone knows we are in business to earn money. But what about earning trust and respect? What happened to the good old days when those “things” mattered? Think they don’t today? Well they do. Competition for similar services and products is overwhelming. Clients and prospects now need to rely on the trustworthiness and respect of the companies with which they want to conduct business.

In order to get ahead of your competition, you need to hear what your clients and prospects are saying about you – especially the negative comments. Make this an opportunity for your company to gain their trust and respect. Use this time to show that you heard them, are making changes and are putting in measures to prevent future mishaps.

Update them frequently regarding these issues and concerns using your social media outlets. Frequently describe the changes you are making and your timeline – keeping them in the loop. Use your other marketing outlets to promote the resolution to these issues once complete. Allow your clients and prospects the opportunity to reap the rewards of hanging in there while you were making the necessary changes. Invite them back with valuable discounts, incentives or other similar rewards and ask them to talk about their experience.

Why not ask what changes your clients and prospects would like to see? What a great reason to stay in front of these groups and interact.

You will start to learn what’s really important to your clients and prospects and, by putting it to use, you will gain their trust and respect.

Author: Karen Pryor – President of Pryor2 Marketing. She is an award winning and creative problem solver with more than 10 years experience of high level project and client management, including initiating, developing and presenting campaigns which help clients reach goals that are essential to the company’s growth.

Branding: It’s a Company Wide Effort

Karen Pryor — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 11:23:52 +0000

Most businesses think branding is their logo and a brochure with matching stationery. That’s partially true. But branding is the overall experience from top to bottom within a company. How clients/prospects are treated, how problems are solved, how fast they get a response, how valuable is the company’s product, does it do what it says it will do etc. All of these should leave the prospect or client with a positive feeling. That includes how the companies reach out to their audience.

Businesses need to make sure they are providing useful information when using social media. Just shouting isn’t effective, the WIIFM is vital. People are no longer entertained by just a clever and flashy message, with the tech world advancing every day, we now need to be clever, flashy and relevant. Give them something they can use or share and be rewarded.

With so many possibilities of brand loyalty options, clients and prospects are looking for rewards, which heighten the importance of the overall experience. “If I do this, I’ll get that.” It’s almost necessary to have some form of interactive response/reward.

A brand can’t just sit there and look pretty any more or just be clever. A brand needs to deliver and with so many competitors and new start ups every day, it’s really the overall experience that will keep clients coming back. One misstep and they can find another company with the click of a button.

Everyone at the company needs to buy into the mission and vision and understand that customer service (with options) is a must. That goes from the CEO to the night security guard. They all are part of the brand experience and have an effect on the clients – good or bad.

Author: Karen Pryor – President of Pryor2 Marketing. She is an award winning and creative problem solver with more than 10 years experience of high level project and client management, including initiating, developing and presenting campaigns which help clients reach goals that are essential to the company’s growth.