2010 May | Relationship Economics

Social Media Strategy Video with David Nour

By David Nour

Do you have online presence? If Yes, What is working? What is not? How do you know? What is the strategy behind all your online efforts?

David Nour founder of Relationship Economics is talking about Social Media Strategy in this video clip and how you can answer the above mentioned questions.

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Posted in Business Networking, Business Relationships, Social Media, Social Networking, Social Networking Technology, Video | 1 Comment

B2B Marketers Gain Ground with Social

By David Nour

Perceived irrelevance still a barrier

Business-to-business (B2B) companies are participating in the social space, but they are not yet as engaged as their business-to-consumer (B2C) brethren and face greater internal obstacles, according to a report from digital marketing agency White Horse.

Comparable numbers of B2B and B2C marketers were not doing any social marketing at all, but business-oriented firms were much more likely to say they had social media accounts but little marketing activity.

Zero Value-Add!

By David Nour

Are you sending out emails like this with ZERO value-add?

1. You don’t know anything about me, have read none of my material, and don’t seem to have an original idea if your life depended on it.

2. I’m the best in my space, so you referencing a couple of others, whom I can’t stand by the way, doesn’t help your credibility.

3. Your blog really isn’t that impressive.

4. "Jerry McGuire for nerds" – really? That’s how you want to position yourself?

5. Would is misspelled in the last sentence, which tells me that you don’t pay that much attention to what you send out.

Here is how to fix it:

1. Have someone I like, respect, and trust introduce you; it’s a lot easier to get in the door via credibility by association.

2. Specificity drives credibility – look over my content, suite of services, and make some assumptions – but come up with something original. Even if you’re off base, I’ll appreciate your investment and will hear your perspective.

3. Ask engaging questions before you pitch me; push my buttons, get me to think about a piece of my business differently, excite or disturb me to get off the dime!

4. Include a reference letter or a client testimonial which raves about you, i.e. "my business is 2x what it was a year ago because of this guy!"

5. Focus on the output / results you create vs. the input – "multiple modalities – books, speaking, assessment tools, etc." are all inputs which matter very little; it’s driving top line, profitable growth that counts.

Before you send out another zero value-add email, think about the recipient.

Hi David,

My name is Joe Blank and I am a consultant that works with a variety of authors, gurus and thought leaders. I came across your site and think it is very well done. I’ve worked with some of the best folks in your space (Mr. X and Mr. Y are examples). I’d like to schedule a call to explore how I might be helpful to you, you can learn a bit about me at my blog here. I’ve been told I am a "Jerry McGuire for nerds", which may seem odd but describes what I do pretty well. I take a holistic view of a thought leaders work and help develop a variety of monetization stratgies that touch on multiple modalities (books, speaking, assesment tools, training solutions, consulting engagements, etc). Let me know if you’d like to connect by suggesting a few time slots that woudl work best for you.

Regards,

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Posted in Business Networking, Business Relationships, Client Relationships, Social Networking | No Comments

Missed Opportunities for Some Marketers

By David Nour

You can lead some people to water – you just can’t make them drink…

Is B2B on Board with Social?

MAY 13, 2010

Missed opportunities for some marketers

Despite social media marketing’s popularity, business-to-business (B2B) companies are still fairly new to it. According to a survey from Business.com, 73% of B2B respondents have less than two years of social media marketing experience.

March 2010 research from marketing automation firm Genius.com and BtoB magazine found that about one-half of business-oriented marketers are staying away from social tools such as blogging and Twitter. Facebook was more popular, with nearly three-fifths participating, and business-focused social network LinkedIn was used by three-quarters of B2B marketers.

Both business-oriented social networks and general social networks offer B2B companies a variety of opportunities. They can improve communication between customers, prospects and suppliers; aid collaboration between business partners; help with product development; and identify leads.

B2B companies also have an advantage when using social media because they tend to focus on goals and results, such as leads, that visibly affect their bottom line.

Business.com found in 2009 that those B2B marketers who do use social media tend to do so more extensively than their business-to-consumer counterparts.

Those with at least one profile were more likely to manage a presence on several sites than the general B2B respondents to the Genius.com survey, and were more likely than B2C companies to measure their social success.

“While recent studies have shown that up to 90 percent of consumers are using social media to make their purchasing decisions, B2B marketers seem to be out of step and are using these tools much less frequently,” said the Genius.com report.

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Posted in Entrepreneurial Success, Social Networking, Social Networking Technology | 1 Comment

David Nour is this year’s keynote speaker at the 2010 Farwest Show Manager’s Circle

By David Nour

Show Features!

New Varieties Showcase

Want to know what plants to buy for the coming fall or spring 2011 season? Find the New Varieties Showcase at the 2010 Farwest Show and you’ll see plants with new pedigrees featured in a stylishly designed display garden. Relax. See the plants in a landscaped environment. And plant tags, provided Macore, will direct you to the growers where you can place an order. Easy! Thirty-five annuals, perennials, shrubs and trees from fourteen innovative companies will be featured in a contemporary showcase design. And be sure to vote for your favorites while you’re there.

New Varieties Showcase

Show Stoppers!

More in Store for Retailers and Greenhouse Growers

(Stay tuned for the May Farwest Show Insider for Growers and Landscape Contractor educational tracks)

In the throes of spring, there’s hardly time to breathe let alone think about how to do business better. August is a different story: you’ll have time to take a deep breath and dive into great topics to think about your business and your employees.

For seminar details, go to www.farwestshow.com. Registration opens in May.

Farwest Show Seminars

Garden centers: Jazz up your store, tune-up your electronic media marketing and find some great ideas to implement immediately. Farwest Show Seminars are a fount of knowledge to help you capture more business from new and returning customers. A partnership with Today’s Garden Center magazine brings you several of these seminars (indicated with ^TGC). In addition to the Garden Center Pavilion quick quip workshops, check these out:

Creating a "Brand" New Garden Center – A case study
Website Checkup: How Healthy is Your Site
11 Steps to Integrate Social Media into Your Marketing Plan
Define your Garden Center Brand and Make it Work for You
Retail Trends for 2010 ^(TGC)
Revolutionary 100 Panel Discussion ^(TGC)
Steal This Idea ^(TGC)

Greenhouse Growers: Set yourself apart and improve the quality of your product. Farwest Show Seminars bring you the latest information to help you make good business decisions. A partnership with Greenhouse Grower magazine brings you several of these seminars (indicated with ^GG)

Disease Basics
Tank-Mixing Pest Control Materials
IGR’s
Breaking Out of the Commodity Trap ^(GG)
Shrink Your Shrink ^(GG)
Greenhouse Grower’s Top Grower Panel Discussion ^(GG)

And if you want to finesse your business practices, these sessions are appropriate for owners and managers of every aspect of the green industry.

Adaptive Innovation (Manager’s Circle)
It’s all about the fit: Good Hiring Practices
Preparing and Embracing the Realities of the Economic Turnaround – Getting Ready for Change

Insights!

Social Networking. Its value seems questionable at times. Take a few minutes with David Nour as he whittles the subject down to its essentials. Use it to broaden your reach, influence and listen to your target audience. But do not attempt to use it to sell.

David Nour is this year’s keynote speaker at the 2010 Farwest Show Manager’s Circle. Click here for more information or to register (registration opens in May).

Tips for Success!

A 56-year Old Innovator

In 1953, when Anderson Dye & Manufacturing Co opened its doors in Oregon, the nursery industry relied on clay pots and food cans for its container-grown plants. Looking for a lighter, easier to manage container for Northwest nurseries, the company introduced its first plastic pot in 1957. They are still innovating today. Take a moment to see what Anderson Dye & Manufacturing will be introducing at the 2010 Farwest Show. Hint: it looks like plastic and sometimes acts like plastic, but it biodegrades after use.

Oregon: The State of Perfection

The annual "State of Perfection" issue of Digger, featured six nurseries that are representative of the state’s climate, passion, diversity, insight, service and quality. We shot videos at each nursery in which the growers talked about a favorite offering.

» View all of the 2010 State of Perfection Videos

» Request your FREE Digger subscription