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Turn Your Business Into a Community Building Platform
Feb 8th
Turn Your Business Into a Community Building Platform
This content from: Duct Tape Marketing
I believe the future of business and commitment building resides in the idea of viewing your business as a platform for your community.
The notion of a platform is one that receives a fair amount of play in various contexts.
An author is said to possess a platform when they have built a following. Consultants might work with a business owner to build a platform through speaking, writing, blogging and connecting in social media. And finally, many tech firms have built platforms by creating open source software, such as WordPress, that allows other 3rd party providers to build commerce and community on top of their framework.
Amazon sells lots of books, but in order to do that they needed to develop lots of file serving and storage capacity and get very, very good at delivering lightning quick web results in one of the highest traffic demand environments online.
Amazon took something that had little to do with their existing business, but which they had become incredibly proficient at, and created Amazon Web Services that allows thousands of business to build on the Amazon framework. I host and stream all of my product videos using Amazon S3 servers.
Airbnb is a community marketplace that allows property owners and travelers to connect with each other for the purpose of renting unique vacation spaces around the world. I use it frequently and love how simple the service is to use. Airbnb is built on Amazon Web Services and uses their database tools to build their community.
I would like to suggest that the notion of a platform is one that we can apply to almost any business.
What is a platform in this context?
A platform is a system that helps people create products, services, profits, businesses, communities, and networks of their own. The dynamics that must be present to create a platform environment are openness and collaboration.
So, the questions you need to ponder are:
- How could you or your business act as a platform?
- What could others build on top of your business or products?
- How could you add more value through your platform approach?
- How could you grow a network on your platform?
- Are there other businesses that your platform could launch?
- How could your community generate value for each other?
- How could your platform learn from community members?
- How could you create something open enough to attract your competitors?
- What platforms already exist that you could build on?
- Could you use your existing purpose, culture or community as a platform?
- What could you acquire as a way to build a platform?
- What could you extend as a way to build a platform?
When you start to think about your business in this manner you can move beyond the traditional applications of the term platform and blend platform type thinking into your business model, your culture and ultimately how you engage and communicate with your community.
Find your unique framework for openness
The key is to locate your unique framework as the foundation for the platform. Often times this requires thinking far outside of what your core business was designed to do and looking purely at things you can do, things you’ve gotten good at doing, even if they are simply things you do to support your core business.
AppleTree Answers is a call center business headquartered in Wilmington Delaware. The company has built a platform of sorts by figuring out how to change the paradigm of the call center culture. The company has received numerous awards for workplace excellence and is a frequent member of the Inc 500 and 5000.
AppleTree’s rapid growth then has come about by acquiring other small call centers and installing Appletree’s unique framework of openness. Appletree’s strong culture is the platform they’ve built all of their expansion on.
It’s all about building more value
A major dynamic of the platform component is value creation. No matter what your business does it will sink or swim based on the value (perceived or otherwise) it creates in someone’s life. This is extremely so when we talk about the community aspect of a platform.
Further, if you want to differentiate your business from others that are already providing value to a market, you’ve got to find a way to create more value as a competitive edge.
Many people default to adding features to products and services as a way to address value, but I think the real impact in value creation comes from strategically finding ways to add value in the way your business delivers a unique experience to its customer rather than through some sort of product enhancement.
The beauty of understanding value creation at the strategic level and then forcing that thinking into every tactical decision is that this is some of the most profitable work you can do. When a market comes to value what you have to offer as the “go to” choice you’re on your way to a premium pricing opportunity. People will pay dearly for an experience that helps them get more of what they want out of life.
View full post on Small Business Marketing Blog from Duct Tape Marketing
Do This, Don’t Do That: A Strategy for Unique Business Building
Jan 21st
Small business leadership requires an incredible range of decisions. Your strategy is key to navigating these successfully. Having a unique strategy separates you from the pack.
Opportunities
So you think your business is unique? Better reserve judgement until you check out some of these. We all know that part of branding is that initial impact your business makes on customers. And, of course, on creating that one unique product or service no one else has. Yahoo! News
How not to handle business reputations. When looking at the way celebrities and gurus handle their small businesses, we are sometimes treated to a view of how we hope our businesses someday might be. Not in this case. Here’s a look at what can go completely wrong when managing your reputation. David Leonhardt’s SEO and Social Media Marketing
Marketing
Video tips you should ignore. There are so many tips abounding on managing your small business, including your business online, that you’d be surprised hearing someone advocate ignoring them. Work At Home Woman
What separates great entrepreneurs from all the rest? David Siteman Garland shares this simple thought after time spent interviewing some of the most successful small business leaders on the Web. There is no secret formula for success and no substitute for paying your dues. The Rise to the Top
Sales
Steps to better e-commerce success. It’s called the empty shopping cart syndrome. What happens when you set up that online store only to have nothing happen? Nothing at all! Don’t loose hope. As with any problem there is a solution. Learn more about how to turn e-commerce failure to success. Buzz Small Business Magazine
So you want to do business with China. Small businesses have better odds than ever before, even as exporters. Certainly the Web and other technology will help you if you have the products, services and marketing to be a success. But hold it! This infographic suggests some obstacles. High Street Partners
Management
What a city in Spain can teach the world about branding. Plenty. Let us tell you! Check out this post on how one city has promoted itself to incredible heights and how these techniques are things you should already be trying in your business. Bloggertone
Bring your employees into the game. You know that your employees are the key to your businesses success. So it shouldn’t come as a shock that giving them a stake in the outcome is far more likely to lead to success. But when looking at compensation, how can you find the equation that works the best? You’re the Boss
Leadership
Your mantras for success. A mantra is meant to be a short phrase repeated over and over again to reinforce an idea. This list of suggestions is clearly worth recitation by any entrepreneur wishing to find success and take it to the next level. Inc.com
How not to lead. Don’t make the mistake of thinking this is just another anti-Washington rant or one more critique of SOPA and the potential damage it could have done to the world as we know it. Oh no. It is much more! It is an object lesson about the kind of leadership we desperately need…now! Seth Godin’s Blog
Do This, Don’t Do That: A Strategy for Unique Business Building
View full post on Small Business News, Tips, Advice – Small Business Trends
Building a Business is Worth the Time
Jan 19th
Make no mistake. Creating your own small business is hard work. But as you’ll see, there are rewards. Here are some tips, tools and trends to think about while taking the time you need to build your small business.
Small Biz Success
It takes time to build a business! Rachel Strella can attest to that. Over the last 18 months, she admits to spending many 60 hour days building her social media marketing firm based in Camp Hill, PA, but she often finds that people still ask her, What do you do all day? Strella Social Media
Living the dream after layoffs. Some people might think of a layoff as the ultimate bad news, but for Carolyn Higgins it was the first step on the path to helping small businesses think and market the way larger companies do. What can Carolyn teach you about marketing your business today? BizSugar Blog
Tips & Trends
Even celebrities want to be entrepreneurs. Nowadays becoming a small business owner is so popular, even the stars want to get into the act. Take Jessica Alba, star of TV’s “Dark Angel” and The Fantastic Four movies, who recently announced a new e-commerce biz selling eco-friendly products. CNN Small Business
Elections worth their weight in gold. It’s election season again and the dredging up of numerous public issues can mean good opportunities for PR if your business happens to touch upon any of these. Here are nine top ideas to get you started. Understanding Marketing
Self-improvement
Don’t over-organize. It’s official! A clean desk may indeed be the sign of a sick mind. One expert says you aren’t doing yourself any favors with endless organizational chores. It’s something to remember in small business and in life. Inc.com
Marketing
How do you showcase your expertise? Promoting your knowledge and experience in the area where you have expertise is a huge part of building your brand. And though many Web tools, particularly social media sites, have been created to make this easier, there are basic techniques you must observe. Search Engine People
Transforming Leads Into Sales. It can be a tricky thing to turn leads or prospects into paying customers, but e-mail can be an important tool in this effort, if used correctly. How are you using your e-mail efforts to nurture potential prospects and transform them into customers in the future? HubSpot Blog
Startup
Guide to an “enchanting” business plan. Guy Kawasaki, author of Enchantment, gives this brief overview that may have you looking at business plans a bit differently in the future. There are also some downloads to help you get started. How to Change the World
7 Tips for Startup Companies. Though the following suggestions are made by a research scientist and clearly aimed more at the tech startup, the fact is that these tips can apply to almost any business you can think of. Do they apply to your idea? On Startups
Infographics
Infographics for your small business. They’re everywhere and super-popular, and if you don’t yet use infographics as a marketing tool for your business, maybe you should. Here are some basic examples of what the medium can do to transmit your message. Small Business Trends
Building a Business is Worth the Time
View full post on Small Business News, Tips, Advice – Small Business Trends
11 Tips for Building and Managing a Team
Jan 18th
If you’ve gotten to the point where you’re hiring employees for your business, give yourself a pat on the back. This is a major milestone for any company – and one that millions of entrepreneurs never achieve. Now your challenge is finding the right employee and putting them to work in a way that will help propel your company’s continued growth.
We asked members of the Young Entrepreneur Council (YEC), an invitation-only nonprofit organization comprised of the country’s most promising young entrepreneurs, this question:
“What one employee management tip would you give entrepreneurs who are building their team?”
Here’s what the YEC community had to say:
1. Train Them
“Many entrepreneurs have the deluded expectation that an employee should show up able to do their job. No matter how competent they are, an employee will require train up and integration time. An added upshot, thinking about employee training cycles and growth paths really gets you thinking about how to grow your company.” ~ Charlie Gilkey, Productive Flourishing
2. Create an Entrance Interview
“We’ve created some documents for new employees to fill out right when they start about how they like to work, be rewarded, have meetings, etc. By having this written down it gives our whole team an understanding of how new team members might fit in and creates a better work culture.” ~ Caitlin McCabe, Real Bullets Branding
3. Get a Good Project Management System
“Entrepreneurs can keep the big picture in their head, but employees need to have the details in front of them. A good project management software (Manymoon is free) is a great way to keep the team focused and on task. Efficiency and productivity increase when you measure accountability with project management software.” ~ Lucas Sommer, Audimated
4. Teach Employees to Never Need a Manager
“Teach and empower your employees by giving them parameters to help them do their job autonomously. A sales rep doesn’t need a script, she must understand what makes a product valuable to a customer, and the many ways to point out those benefits. A service rep does not need a “company policy” to refer to, but rather a strategy for solving problems so the client is satisfied.” ~ Vanessa Nornberg, Metal Mafia
5. Set a Quarterly Theme and Vision
“Our first year in business we just did business day to day. But we found that even though we were doing awesome things, sometimes we got stuck in a groove because we weren’t shooting for a big goal. So we started setting a quarterly theme for our company. This theme goes into everything we do those three months, and everyone is focused on making that goal a reality. It helps focus efforts.” ~ Trevor Mauch, Automize, LLC
6. Open Door Policy
“Employees (especially new ones) are bound to make more mistakes than necessary if they feel they can’t ask you questions or get your feedback. Make sure you are accessible and available as much as possible. Literally, keep your door open to give the impression that anyone can visit to bounce an idea or ask a question of you.” ~ Benjamin Leis, Sweat EquiTees
7. Culture Is King
“Put your employees first, and they will take better care of your customers. As you are building your team, you must define what the inside of your company is going to look like. Your internal brand ultimately dictates how the company is represented on the outside. If you try to design the customer experience first, it will be forced and unnatural. Try to design the employee experience first.” ~ Nick Friedman, College Hunks Hauling Junk
8. Hire for the Ability to Get Stuff Done
“A small company cannot tolerate people who are lazy, procrastinate or are unable to use limited resources to push forward projects. You need people who can follow-through, find clever solutions and workarounds with a sense of urgency, and can take charge of a problem and drive it to a successful solution.” ~ Matt Mickiewicz, 99designs
9. Practice Transparency
“I’m always very honest with my team regarding financials and clients. In this economy, it’s important to be upfront with folks in every aspect of the business — particularly when you’re first getting started. Young professionals enjoy being an integral part of the planning and decision-making process, and it can also help them better understand how the business is run.” ~ Heather Huhman, Come Recommended
10. Tell Them How To Kick Butt
“I’m working on this, but it’s become obvious that letting someone know how to kick butt increases the likelihood that they will do so. Smart, talented people want to feel smart and talented, and that’s on you as a business leader. Entrepreneurs are often self-motivated and we forget that getting the most out of people means showing them how to succeed.” ~ Derek Shanahan, Foodtree
11. Encourage Openness and Honesty
“You never want your employees to be afraid to tell you the truth. You can encourage openness and honesty by: 1) Responding calmly when they tell you something has not gone as you expected 2) Talking through a plan for moving forward 3) Agreeing on follow up and accountability.” ~ Elizabeth Saunders, Real Life E®
Tips Photo via Shutterstock
11 Tips for Building and Managing a Team
View full post on Small Business News, Tips, Advice – Small Business Trends
How Getting a Massage Is Like Building Trust With a Client
Dec 27th
I get regular massages. It’s something I’m proud of, since most people don’t take enough care of their bodies. But I digress. I met a new therapist on my last appointment. At first I was a bit nervous. After all, I was trusting her with my body. What if she yanked something in my neck? What if she didn’t give me my money’s worth?
After we chatted a while about what I wanted out of the massage, I began to relax. She seemed competent. And after the massage? I would have handed her my wallet; I trusted her that much.
This got me thinking about building trust with clients. Many start out just like I did: unsure about this working relationship. It’s your job as the business owner, consultant or salesperson to put the client at ease and show her that she’s put her money in the right place.
Demonstrate Your Expertise
My masseuse talked to me about trigger points. She deftly found the knots in my back without me pointing them out. This showed me she knew her field. When you talk to new clients, do you show your expertise? You don’t want to come off like a know-it-all, but you do want to show them that you’ve done your time in your industry, and that you’re qualified to help with their problems.
Show Your Passion
What probably sold me on this massage therapist was her love of massage. In fact, I chose her because she was recommended to me, and I was told that she “puts her heart into her massages.” I loved that. And my experience with her only proved that to be true. Do you wear your passion on your sleeve? Can others tell how much you love what you do?
I call myself a marketing geek. If you meet me at a networking event and show the slightest interest in marketing (or even if you don’t, to be honest), I will quickly come up with some ideas on how you can market your business. It’s my version of freestyling. Give me a business concept and 30 seconds, and I’ll tell you what you need. It’s very clear how much I love what I do, and I really think that’s why people hire my company.
Give Them Their Money’s Worth
Some masseuses give massages that are too light for my liking. I need my muscles pounded on. So when I get a light massage, I feel cheated. Are you giving your customers your all? Are you treating them like each one is your only customer? That’s the mindset you need to have in order to provide stellar customer service for every client.
While this first massage was a sort of courting date, I now will only visit this therapist. We connected, and we built that trust together. That’s the key to solid customer relationships.
How Getting a Massage Is Like Building Trust With a Client
View full post on Small Business News, Tips, Advice – Small Business Trends
Squeeze Page List Building Solution With Intergrated One-time Offer!
Dec 18th
New To List Building? Do It Like The Guru’s Who Are Making $1000s In One Go With The Push Of The Send Button! Affiliates Make 75% On $17 Front End, $47 Oto, & $27 Downsell! Visit Http://www.tiptopaffiliates.com For Tools And Resources.
Squeeze Page List Building Solution With Intergrated One-time Offer!
Traffic Building School Daily Training Videos By Email
Dec 10th
New: The Easiest Way For Newbies To Learn Online Marketing! 50+ Short Videos Delivered Daily By Email Teach Social Media, Article Marketing, Seo, Link-building And All The Tips & Tricks They Need To Get Started Online. Huge 75% Commission Payout!
Traffic Building School Daily Training Videos By Email
Wired List Building
Dec 5th
Exploit The Closely Guarded List Building Secrets Of The Internet’s Most Wealthiest Marketers And Make More Money Than You Ever Thought Possible
Wired List Building
Ultimate Link Building Report – Link Building Guide!
Dec 2nd
Link Building Explained A-z! This Is Literally The “ultimate” Link Building Guide On The Market! By Josh Spaulding
Ultimate Link Building Report – Link Building Guide!
Expert List Building Home Study Course
Nov 21st
Expert List Building Is A Home Study Course Designed For Beginners To Learn The Skills Involved In Internet Marketing Starting With The Basics Of Domain Names And Hosting And Market And Niche Research And Blogging, Traffic Generation And List Building.
Expert List Building Home Study Course
