Eric Ungs

January 24-30, 2011 – #5

Each week I want to share with you the interesting things I come across. It could be anything; blog posts, tech products, new apps, quotes, etc. If you’ve found any interesting tidbits or news, please share in the comments below, I’d love to hear about them.

1. LinkedIn Maps – “Your professional world. Visualized.” This is currently an experimental project in the LinkedIn labs that puts your connections in a stunning visual. The visual sifts through your network and puts them into clusters based on the types of relationships. Take my LinkedIn Map for instance, it generated 7 different clusters in which I had the opportunity in naming them. This is a neat way to visually understand how your connected and to which category (relationship, industry, profession, etc.). It defines who your key influencers are by the size of the dot and font. It really is a beautiful visual. Make your own LinkedIn Map. Once generated it creates a landing page of your map in which it gives you several sharing options to share with your social peers.

2. Hyper Alerts – Facebook page administrators, it’s finally here, though not within Facebook, but via Hyper Alerts. You can register to receive alerts on any type of activity that takes place on your Facebook fan page. This new free service is extremely easy to setup. Simply; open an account, add new alert, input your page vanity URL, set frequency, and sit back while your email keeps you in the loop of any page activity. Via HubSpot, this service can also be used to stay on top of what your competitors are doing within the Facebook space. There’s no limit to the number of alerts you set. Nifty tool hugh.

3. Facebook Sponsored Stories – Facebook just recently launched a new ad platform of what they’re calling Facebook Sponsored Stories. Basically, when you either check-in to a brands physical location, engage on their page, or interact within their custom app that brand is able to grab those bits of content and use them in their Facebook ads. Not too long ago I posted a tweet about having dynamic photos instead of the brand uploading their own and the only thing being personalized is if your friend liked the ad. So whomever has previously interacted with the brand their photo would appear when someone in their network stumble across it. This is exactly what Facebook Sponsored Stories is doing but instead they’re using content that users have created. I think this is a great direction for the ad platform within Facebook. It creates a more trusted and personalized advertisement (not even sure you can call it that). As always there are two sides to every coin, some preferring to have users opt-in.

January Read: Referral Engine by John Jantsch

January 3-9, 2011 – #2

Each week I want to share with you the interesting things I come across. It could be anything; blog posts, tech products, new apps, quotes, etc. If you’ve found any interesting tidbits or news, please share in the comments below, I’d love to hear about them.

1. Jott.com – Jott allows you to utilize your mobile device to remain efficient all through voice activity. Jott Voicemail takes your voicemail and turns them into text and emails. With Jott Assistant you simply place a phone call and you can add to your todo lists, send emails to colleagues, update web services. The voice-to-text service turns your voice notes, messages, and updates into text and sends them where you want. Jott Salesforce uses voice-to-text and a simple phone call to allow sales professionals to input their account and opportunity updates, take quick notes, and set reminders and appointments, all on the go.

2. Foursquare losing its appeal – A recent post from Reuters.com titled “Foursquare still struggling to become more than a niche app” states that the number of unique visitors is on a downward spiral and fast. There were 1.8 million unique visitors this summer compared to less than 1 million last month. This is a pretty staggering number considering the short time frame in which it occurs. This leaves me with one question; What can Foursquare do to not fall victim to the breathing monster in silicon valley, Facebook? Although the recent upgrades with photos and comments was a great added feature, there needs to be more features that attract the user as well as the brands. Foursquare needs to bridge this gap. The ‘game’ of Foursquare is losing its appeal. I hope they can rebound and not fall into Facebook’s quicksand.

3. Ge.tt File Sharing -  “With Ge.tt you can share any number of files, no matter how large, within seconds. Click on select files. Share the files with your friends. Move on” It’s a simple file sharing/hosting tool where you can easily push out to Facebook, Twitter and email; no plugin to download, view real-time analytics and free yourself from rejected emails because of too large of files. More about Ge.tt.

January Read: Referral Engine by John Jantsch

What does Foursquare need to do to be mainstream?

Posted by Eric Ungs

Marketing is getting people who have a specific need or problem to know, like, and trust you.

This is the definition John Jantsch uses for small business marketing. John is the author of  “Duct Tape Marketing: The World’s Most Practical Small Business Marketing Guide“. This is the type of book where you read it once and ideas flow, then you read it again filling in your own marketing strategy. It really gets you excited about communicating your business.

Everyone is in the marketing business.

John refers to this statement over and over again. Regardless of your product or service, your in the marketing business. Small business owners get overwhelmed in even a simple thought of implementing any kind of marketing on top of running their day-to-day business operations. If you, as a business owner, use just one core ingredient to start out with your  plan, your business will reap benefits. But, the outcome lies in being consistent and true to that one ingredient. When your ready, grab some more duct tape and put its sticky system to use.

Before you can implement anything there are two elements that must be answered:

1.) Identify your ideal client.

What does your most loyal customer look like?

2.) You don’t sell goods and services, you sell solutions to problems.

What are you really selling? (click here for further thoughts)

After some soul-searching and really understanding who your client is and what they’re really purchasing, this lays down a solid foundation to build a successful campaign.

John really emphasizes on creating a group of extremely loyal customers (influencers), and then utilizing his referral system. This group of influencers can take your profits from a flat line to a steady upward slope.

Not only did I read this book with  a mindset of marketing a small business, I also read it in terms of marketing my own personal brand. I think there are a lot of relevant elements in doing so… I want to dig a little deeper into this thought and will post something soon.

This book definitely needs to be in the hands of anyone doing any kind of business. It’s a thought-provoking read in the way you view your own business image and how you can get your customers to see it the same way, if not better. The short review tips at the end of each chapter are excellent refreshers and the examples are idea generators.

Is this a two thumbs up read? If you’ve read it, let me know what you thought?

Posted by Eric Ungs

Photo courtesy of mrkittycatguy

This weekend I started reading “Duct Tape Marketing: The World’s Most Practical Small Business Marketing Guide” by John Jantsch (amazon link). He also has a very informative blog and podcast.

I am currently a little over half way through and right off the bat, 30 pages in, he poses a question that I couldn’t get out of my mind. I stopped, pondered and grabbed an old fashion pen and paper and started writing.

This question is an important aspect in forming a solid marketing plan and doing any type of loyal business. The way you answer is even more crucial.

What are you really selling?

Answering this question correctly is the first step in setting your business apart from your competition. It’s what encourages repeat business and referrals. It’s what creates a trusting and well-respected relationship between seller and buyer.

Most will answer this question with some kind of product or service, some kind of physicality. But that’s not the case at all. As a business owner you need to dig deep and do some soul-searching in what it really is that consumers are purchasing from you.

As a Realtor, for example, your answer shouldn’t be just homes. What you are really selling are memories, neighborhoods, sense of security, pride, new chapters, new beginnings, 4th of July barbecues on the back deck, snow forts in the front yard, etc.

Once you are able to communicate to the buyers what they’re really buying (and disclosing what’s in it for them) then your service becomes unique.

Tom Peters quotes the Harley Davidson executive who said: “What we sell is the ability for a 43-year-old accountant to dress in black leather, ride through small towns and have people be afraid of him.” They don’t sell motorcycles.

So, what are you really selling?