This is a great idea. Imagine the hundreds (soon to be thousands?) of books traveling across the United States at any one time. Napster for books ...
www.paperbackswap.com
Saturday, October 6, 2007
Thursday, October 4, 2007
Verbal communication
In many ways being an entrepreneur is no different than working in more traditional businesses. One of the essential skills that overlaps both spheres of the commercial world is verbal communication. I was fortunate enough to be born with a natural inclination towards the verbal gab and grew up in a household where the traditional tools and techniques of persuasion could frequently be heard around the dinner table.
With all that said ... as I spend more of my time talking with various potential business partners I am struck that when I reflect upon my impact and overall effectiveness in communicating the point I would like to get across, that my performance is varied. Sometimes I find myself "in the zone" and my tone is firm but generous, I interject appropriate humor as the conversation gets tense or uncomfortable, I remember to smile and to look directly in their eyes and I keep ready that mental check list in my head and easily transition to the next point or topic at the appropriate time. Other times ... its just bad. I feel uptight, nervous, can't remember what I have to say and my overall effectiveness deflates almost immediately as these things happen.
I would like to begin to document some of the key steps in conducting a concrete conversation in order to develop a process that I can repeat and refine as time progresses.
Two very important ground rules:
- Be kind and purposeful in all of your comments. This is really critical, and the best businessmen/women I've seen perfect this balance. Getting mad is almost never worth while and timidity earns little respect from even the least sophisticated individuals. In the end, take to heart what your mother taught you. Always be respectful and kind and set your own path in this world.
- Prepare. Its amazing how much even 3 minutes of note jotting can help prior to a conversation. While prep time varies a great deal depending upon the circumstance, knowing in your mind the list of 3 -4 things that you would like to get out of the conversation or from that person seems basic, but its frequently overlooked and an easy step to take.
Ok, so now to the chronological conversation.
First - Say your name and why you're speaking with that person. If the occasion presents itself, provide an introduction, but when you get to a question be specific but not confrontational.
Last - Ask if there is anyone else they think might be a helpful person for you to speak with. End every interaction with that question. A lot of the whole business game its networking and finding the correct people.
Theres a lot more in there and I'll add as I track more of what feels most effective. How do you approach business interactions? What works best on your end?
With all that said ... as I spend more of my time talking with various potential business partners I am struck that when I reflect upon my impact and overall effectiveness in communicating the point I would like to get across, that my performance is varied. Sometimes I find myself "in the zone" and my tone is firm but generous, I interject appropriate humor as the conversation gets tense or uncomfortable, I remember to smile and to look directly in their eyes and I keep ready that mental check list in my head and easily transition to the next point or topic at the appropriate time. Other times ... its just bad. I feel uptight, nervous, can't remember what I have to say and my overall effectiveness deflates almost immediately as these things happen.
I would like to begin to document some of the key steps in conducting a concrete conversation in order to develop a process that I can repeat and refine as time progresses.
Two very important ground rules:
- Be kind and purposeful in all of your comments. This is really critical, and the best businessmen/women I've seen perfect this balance. Getting mad is almost never worth while and timidity earns little respect from even the least sophisticated individuals. In the end, take to heart what your mother taught you. Always be respectful and kind and set your own path in this world.
- Prepare. Its amazing how much even 3 minutes of note jotting can help prior to a conversation. While prep time varies a great deal depending upon the circumstance, knowing in your mind the list of 3 -4 things that you would like to get out of the conversation or from that person seems basic, but its frequently overlooked and an easy step to take.
Ok, so now to the chronological conversation.
First - Say your name and why you're speaking with that person. If the occasion presents itself, provide an introduction, but when you get to a question be specific but not confrontational.
Last - Ask if there is anyone else they think might be a helpful person for you to speak with. End every interaction with that question. A lot of the whole business game its networking and finding the correct people.
Theres a lot more in there and I'll add as I track more of what feels most effective. How do you approach business interactions? What works best on your end?
Monday, October 1, 2007
Communicate, communicate, communicate
Clear communication is a learned art (just ask my writing teacher in college), but at the same time has the added benefit of being simple in its finest form. Look for it and you'll see it in a snap. Ba da ba ba ba ... I'm lovin it. The quilted quicker picker upper, bounty. Expect more, pay less.
Great communicators are able to sift through the clutter, to sift through all the nosie and arrive at a simple, short, and emotional message. In today's highly competitive marketing world short and simple could not be more important. Take a look at TMZ.com or USA today ... or my all-time favorite, cnn. Its almost like American consumers want to be woken up every 7 seconds ... maybe we should start selling dancing monkeys for the kitchen counter top.
The three companies below, two new and one established, use different tools and methods to clearly communicate their message. Frequently they employ a small twist, and it makes all the difference.
1. Ebates - Cash in my pocket (instead of discount). I ran across these guys in a recent article on new web2.0 companies. The article discussed how google was considering advertising models that offered partial compensation to users for clicking on adds (sorry, not yet folks). Ebates is currently utilizing this model in its online store. The name, ebates, communicates rebate + internet. The pages are organized by how much you get back for each product purchased. While Amazon may offer 20% off the new Harry Potter book, Ebates pays you to buy things off their website.
2. Real Age - You are infact younger than you get credit for (instead of health information). Don't prevent aging affects, return to how you feel, to your youth! If I remember correctly these guys were just bought by a private equity shop. Again, why listen to your doctor or health planner when you can have Oprah tell you how young you actually feel (that show is a lot more about youth ideals than it at first appears ... its the second - or first - youth for the housewife). (Small side note, this is whats so brilliant about Adam Werbach's new environmental plan with WalMart employees, he keeps its personal, emotional ... don't attack the world, improve your own life first. Its personal and its sharp.)
3. Abercrombie & Fitch - Sex (instead of sexy clothes). Walk into one of their stores. Go ahead, I know its painful, just try it. It hurts, I know, but its simple, short, and emotional. Take one of those posters home with you and put it in your bathroom. My dad said last week, and this is really strange if you know my dad, that sex is used in selling every product except no product. Own a component of design (or in this case messaging) and leverage it at the expense of the other components. Its how you want to see yourself down the road...
Great communicators are able to sift through the clutter, to sift through all the nosie and arrive at a simple, short, and emotional message. In today's highly competitive marketing world short and simple could not be more important. Take a look at TMZ.com or USA today ... or my all-time favorite, cnn. Its almost like American consumers want to be woken up every 7 seconds ... maybe we should start selling dancing monkeys for the kitchen counter top.
The three companies below, two new and one established, use different tools and methods to clearly communicate their message. Frequently they employ a small twist, and it makes all the difference.
1. Ebates - Cash in my pocket (instead of discount). I ran across these guys in a recent article on new web2.0 companies. The article discussed how google was considering advertising models that offered partial compensation to users for clicking on adds (sorry, not yet folks). Ebates is currently utilizing this model in its online store. The name, ebates, communicates rebate + internet. The pages are organized by how much you get back for each product purchased. While Amazon may offer 20% off the new Harry Potter book, Ebates pays you to buy things off their website.
2. Real Age - You are infact younger than you get credit for (instead of health information). Don't prevent aging affects, return to how you feel, to your youth! If I remember correctly these guys were just bought by a private equity shop. Again, why listen to your doctor or health planner when you can have Oprah tell you how young you actually feel (that show is a lot more about youth ideals than it at first appears ... its the second - or first - youth for the housewife). (Small side note, this is whats so brilliant about Adam Werbach's new environmental plan with WalMart employees, he keeps its personal, emotional ... don't attack the world, improve your own life first. Its personal and its sharp.)
3. Abercrombie & Fitch - Sex (instead of sexy clothes). Walk into one of their stores. Go ahead, I know its painful, just try it. It hurts, I know, but its simple, short, and emotional. Take one of those posters home with you and put it in your bathroom. My dad said last week, and this is really strange if you know my dad, that sex is used in selling every product except no product. Own a component of design (or in this case messaging) and leverage it at the expense of the other components. Its how you want to see yourself down the road...
Friday, September 28, 2007
The big & sticky
Sometimes when you are in the weeds of trying to accomplish your weekly goals or reaching out to make industry contacts, you find yourself glued to a computer screen or on the phone for two, three, fours hours of the day. Coffee becomes your best friend. For me, after those long nights I try and revisit and test my current answers to some of the higher-level questions that are critical to the success of the overall business.
In a recent article on women run businesses from Entrepreneur magazine there were some good ideas on what some of these higher level questions are.
1. Is your idea scalable?- a product/service that rides a trend that blooms in 3 - 5 years. Most importantly, an expandable distribution system, manufacturing relationships that can sustain higher volume levels, a plan for increasing the sales force and a plan for scaling up advertising.
2. Is it a commercially viable business model? - this is a kind way of saying do you have a solid understanding of the costs of the business / industry you're thinking of entering. For instance, how do advertising expenses affect your break into the black.
3. Viable exit strategy - not fun stuff, but necessary.
4. Clear pitch - It can be easy to "know" your business but not be able to explain it well. I've run into this stuttering phenomenon more than once. Practice is really critical. This is also a great area to get feedback from your advisory board on. Their role is not only to help with understanding the dynamics of new industries / setting up relationships, but also to ask you the tough questions to crystallize your thoughts.
In a recent article on women run businesses from Entrepreneur magazine there were some good ideas on what some of these higher level questions are.
1. Is your idea scalable?- a product/service that rides a trend that blooms in 3 - 5 years. Most importantly, an expandable distribution system, manufacturing relationships that can sustain higher volume levels, a plan for increasing the sales force and a plan for scaling up advertising.
2. Is it a commercially viable business model? - this is a kind way of saying do you have a solid understanding of the costs of the business / industry you're thinking of entering. For instance, how do advertising expenses affect your break into the black.
3. Viable exit strategy - not fun stuff, but necessary.
4. Clear pitch - It can be easy to "know" your business but not be able to explain it well. I've run into this stuttering phenomenon more than once. Practice is really critical. This is also a great area to get feedback from your advisory board on. Their role is not only to help with understanding the dynamics of new industries / setting up relationships, but also to ask you the tough questions to crystallize your thoughts.
Wednesday, September 26, 2007
Naketano
These guys are on to something special. I've always loved strong colors in almost anything, but especially in clothing (just ask anyone who knows me). Naketano has added strong cuts to a no reservations attitude towards neon. It just clicks, I love it.
http://www.naketano.de/
http://www.naketano.de/
Thursday, September 20, 2007
The answer
1. What can I give people? What do they want?
Access
Free stuff
2. What can you learn if you tried to start a business with the simple idea mentioned above. I want advertising dollars. I want traffic. I want eyeballs. Its a good scoping tool.
A. Advertise on the website where you get it (youtube. Go to this website and fill out information, and take a look at these ads for other free stuff.)
B. Whoever distributes this to the most people gets a free mercedez
C. Provide your information to ... and you get a free mercedez. (use it as a tool to gather personal information for another company. People provide their personal information so valuemail can send you advertisements for other products.)
E. Sign up for ... and you could get a free mercedez (Three points 1. The information you provide can be used for advertising. 2. Funnel you into purchasing another product. 3. You send the e-mail to other people.) How about an easy function where you can automatically send it to everyone in your e-mail account.
D. Give me a dollar.
E. Hold an event where people pay to get in. Give me x % of all ticket sales (charity auction).
Access
Free stuff
2. What can you learn if you tried to start a business with the simple idea mentioned above. I want advertising dollars. I want traffic. I want eyeballs. Its a good scoping tool.
A. Advertise on the website where you get it (youtube. Go to this website and fill out information, and take a look at these ads for other free stuff.)
B. Whoever distributes this to the most people gets a free mercedez
C. Provide your information to ... and you get a free mercedez. (use it as a tool to gather personal information for another company. People provide their personal information so valuemail can send you advertisements for other products.)
E. Sign up for ... and you could get a free mercedez (Three points 1. The information you provide can be used for advertising. 2. Funnel you into purchasing another product. 3. You send the e-mail to other people.) How about an easy function where you can automatically send it to everyone in your e-mail account.
D. Give me a dollar.
E. Hold an event where people pay to get in. Give me x % of all ticket sales (charity auction).
Wednesday, September 19, 2007
How big is the advertising $ on the internet?
Bigger than I had originally thought. Huge. I just wanted to remind myself to discuss. NYTimes dropped their paid subscriptin business today due to greater revenue opportunities in advertising dollars available from consumers who would read their articles online if it were free.
Two questions to consider:
1. What can I give people? What do they want?
2. What can you learn if you tried to start a business with the simple idea mentioned above. I want advertising dollars. I want traffic. I want eyeballs. Its a good scoping tool.
Two questions to consider:
1. What can I give people? What do they want?
2. What can you learn if you tried to start a business with the simple idea mentioned above. I want advertising dollars. I want traffic. I want eyeballs. Its a good scoping tool.
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