Quit the Bad Stuff

I thought I knew where I was going...and then I read about quitting from Seth Godin's new book.
It is called The Dip and it is about quitting, leaning into the dip, and being the best in the world.

And then I met with a personal friend and coach, Jerry Smith.

And then I read his Balance Life Work blog.

Jerry Smith is a fantastic coach. I had lunch with him the other day and we talked about how difficult it is to get on course with work and life and balance. And then once you are on course and you think you "get it"... how do you keep yourself on course.

I have decided that a regular lunch session with Jerry is one of the ways to keep myself on course. Jerry - I hope that's OK with you!

Go find Jerry's most recent post called Life can get in the way!. Jerry writes about the ridiculously simple things to do when life gets in the way, and how to Quit doing the stuff that knocks you off course.

Cow dung and Web 2.0

I have had several marketing / sales conversations recently where I am trying to describe the Web 2.0 direction that we are all heading.

When you are working with people who know that term: "Web 2.0" - then the conversation starts at a different point.

But, the backstory of the conversation is always in the same direction...."what should I do?"

Web 2.0 is more thought and more work.

When a marketing company is used to sending out BRC cards and then hoping they bought the right list, or offered the right incentive, or used the right color...then getting them to actually think about content and authenticity, to actually ASK about that content, and to then convince others that possibly getting ripped apart by their customers is a GOOD thing is a challenge.

A challenge...but it is right.

Look - Web 2.0 means asking better questions...of yourself...of your partners...of your customers...of your upset customers in particular.

That is the mindset...now, what are the tools. There are literally hundreds of companies out there that have the Web 2.0 concept of true, authentic, rough-around-the-edges interaction built in to their DNA.

Here is a site that lists many of them....it is astounding how many of these companies / websites there are.

Web 2.0 List on Sacred Cow Dung

The Reach of Bad Marketing

Seth Godin's latest post speaks to how marketers would rather take the easy route to reach a lot of people. It is wonderful (of course) and it is a direct reflection of several conversations I recently had with marketers who are trying to walk the line between what their customers are comfortable with and what they know they should be doing.

The alternative is to serve a smaller group of people who are reaching you...finding you...and ready to interact with you.

Marketing is never about your response rate to a post card or a TV ad or even an animated banner.

Web 2.0 marketing is about authentic two-way communications.

Yes, it is harder...and YES, it is worth it.

Seth's Post: Reaching The Unreachable

Open Source Marketing

Welcome to the Open Source Marketing Project for May.

Whether you are an invited guest or you have just stumbled upon this project, please subscribe so you can keep an eye on what is going on.

Here is how this works:

I have a marketing and sales project with a customer that needs help. I have tried a few things over the past few months and this project needs some new sets of eyes. I am asking for your help and your perspective. Thank you for considering this project worth your time.

I will use this blog to link you to websites and other information regarding this customer, our approach to marketing, and the industry this customer of mine is in.

If you have not already, please RSVP to the Open Source Marketing Lunch that will be held Monday, May 7 from 11:45 to 12:45 at The Crestwood Condominiums Meeting Room.

The Crestwood Condominiums are located at 5401 Brookside Blvd. More info is HERE

My company is called Brain Bucket and my website is HERE. Be sure to click on the LENS link on the front page. It is a link to another site that will give you a look at work that is under way but not live, as well as a look at some of the tools and ideas that I connect with customers.

The Project:

Tim Sernett is an accountant who has just come through what he hopes is his final full blown tax season. He is working to transform his business by helping small and medium sized businesses transform their work. Tim has developed a service / process called Profit Focus, and I am working with him to find the appropriate market and application.

Essentially, he is create a service that allows you (as a business owner) to outsource the bookkeeping and accounting tasks, and then to gain a better understanding of your company's cash flow needs through a personal approach to financial planning.

Over the past several months, Brain Bucket has designed and built a new website:

URL:SernettCPA, and we have redesigned his business cards, and added a small leave behind brochure.

We have also worked on a marketing plan that called for me to connect with several of Tim's current clients and to get an understanding of why Tim's current list of customers use him for a variety of services. I will comment more on that as we go along.

Please subscribe to this blog, or check back regularly, as I plan on working through some of my challenges.


Final note: this is not now, nor will it be next week, a sales pitch. I am truly working through some challenges I am having in articulating what Tim's services are, and I am trying to come up with a plan and a way to execute the plan that will help him out.

Thank you for your time.