'Winners never quit' not always practical

Persistence is an important trait for leaders to cultivate, but it has its downside. Remember that the best leaders know when to pull the plug on a project or process. Sometimes it takes more courage to back down and admit you're not going to succeed than to keep charging ahead in futility, wasting time and money on initiatives that have little chance of success.

Don't let your passion -- or your ego -- prevent you from knowing when to cut your losses. Brave leaders quit when they see it's time to move forward in a different direction.

Source: Applicant Web site in Leading for Business

Stick to your guns when communicating during tenuous economic times

The state of the economy is still uncertain, but your responsibility to provide steady leadership to your workforce is never in doubt. use thee guidelines to communicate the right message to your employees.

1. Remain consistent. Don't shift direction according to the day's news, good or bad. Whether you're announcing successes or setbacks, use your message to reinforce your organizations's vision and values.
2. Be positive but honest. Don't ignore real problems when communicating to your workforce. Employees can usually sense insincerity or waffling -- they follow the news too. Give them the proper context for whatever bad news you have to shire, and trust that they can take the truth like adults.
3. Don't overact to circumstance. Thought it's difficult to stay calm when things go wrong, lashing our blindly will sink employee's confidence in your leadership. You don;t have to respond to every problem with an instant solution. Take the time to assess the situation, and choose your words and actions carefully.
4. Stay involved with your people. A crisis is the wrong time to pull back and grow detached from the lives of your workforce,. Yes, you ay be tempted to withdraw and spare yourself the pain of delivering bad news to people you care about, but they'll pick up in your reticence and may start withholding their energy and support in response.

Source: Leading for Results, Adapted from the CareerBuilder Web site

Survive a Recession and Build Your Sales

Work on a plan of attack -- as if you were a great general leading your forces into battle, remember: Wars are won in tents. Write down your goals and prepare a written action plan.

Source: The resources dwelling within them -- Richard E. Byrd

Top 20 Countdown of Miscellaneous Thoughts…

1. I think part of a best friend's job should be to immediately clear your computer history if you die.

2. Nothing sucks more than that moment during an argument when you realize you're wrong.

3. I totally take back all those times I didn't want to nap when I was younger.

4. There is great need for a sarcasm font.

5. How the hell are you supposed to fold a fitted sheet?

6. Was learning cursive really necessary?

7. Map Quest really needs to start their directions on #5. I'm pretty sure I know how to get out of my neighborhood.

8. Obituaries would be a lot more interesting if they told you how the person died.

9. I can't remember the last time I wasn't at least kind of tired.

10. Bad decisions make good stories.

11. You never know when it will strike, but there comes a moment at work when you know that you just aren't going to do anything productive for the rest of the day.

12. Can we all just agree to ignore whatever comes after Blue Ray? I don't want to have to restart my collection...again. (AMEN!)

13. I'm always slightly terrified when I exit out of Word and it asks me if I want to save any changes to my ten-page research paper that I swear I did not make any changes to.

14. "Do not machine wash or tumble dry" means I will never wash this -- ever..

15. I hate when I just miss a call by the last ring (Hello? Hello? Damn it!), but when I immediately call back, it rings nine times and goes to voicemail. What'd you do after I didn't answer? Drop the phone and run away?

16. I hate leaving my house confident and looking good and then not seeing anyone of importance the entire day. What a waste

17. I keep some people's phone numbers in my phone just so I know not to answer when they call.

18. My 4-year old son asked me in the car the other day "Dad what would happen if you ran over a ninja?" How do I respond to that?

19. I think the freezer deserves a light as well..

20. I disagree with Kay Jewelers. I would bet on any given Friday or Saturday night more kisses begin with Miller Lites than Kay.

Source: Hal Williams, Dahlonega, Georgia

Twitter for E-mail Marketers

Earlier this year, Google CEO Eric Schmidt referred to Twitter as the "poor man's e-mail system." So, what does Twitter have in common with e-mail, and how can e-mail marketers use it?

Like e-mail, Twitter is a messaging system that allows you to reach customers directly and gives them the ability to reply or forward (retweet) your message to others. Twitter is permission based. People follow, unfollow, or block you (similar to subscribing for e-mail).

What's different: Twitter messages are (mostly) in public view, not personalized and limited to 140 characters. It's also fleeting. I haven't seen studies, but my attention span is much shorter with Twitter than e-mail. I think time will show that Twitter can have great reach (especially retweets to reach prospects), but not have the same relationship building depth as e-mail.

Use Twitter for Community, Brand, and Business

Two clients that provide good examples of business tweeting are Whole Foods Market and Southwest Airlines.

Whole Foods

Whole Foods uses social media to make its brand feel more local. In addition to its corporate Twitter account with nearly 1.5 million followers, it also has a slew of local Twitter pages. The company also indexes these local pages on its Web site. These create a much more personalized experience, as these tweets from my local store show:

Suffer from Inflammation? Know someone that does? Join us in our Cafe at 7pm for a FREE Health Talk on Nutrition for Inflammation!
Fall is here! And our Fuji Apples are on sale for $1.99/lb! Try this amazing recipe for Pumpkin Apple Pie! http://tinyurl.com/pumpapple

Looking for a new friend? Friends of the Oakland Animal Shelter has some cute & furry pals lookin' for a home at our store today! 11-2pm!

We're running out of our Millenium Kombucha! Today it's buy 1, get 1 FREE! Same goes for full cases! Hurry on down!

Local tweet topics include store events, fresh produce that is seasonal by region, limited inventory items, and local charities. Being local is about product and community.

Southwest Airlines

Southwest stays true to its brand with the various Southwest associates who post on behalf of the company on Twitter. The land of the free drink ticket keeps it fun with contests like these tweets:

To celebrate our new in-flight wine selection, tell us why "You'd Rather Be Drinking Wine than Working" #wineswa http://bit.ly/4sGoz0 8:12 AM from CoTweet

Let's start Monday off right! Who's ready to win a trip to Napa, courtesy of Southwest and @napamarriott? http://bit.ly/4sGoz0 #wineswa 8:09 AM from CoTweet

Twitter Versus Facebook

In the ClickZ column "Twitter Surpasses Facebook as Top Link in E-mail", Bill McCloskey cited a Wet Paint study showing that companies with the highest social media activity increased revenue by 18 percent in the last 12 months, while least-active companies saw a 6 percent drop in sales.

I found this correlation between company growth and adoption of social media when comparing airlines' social media activities. The fastest-growing airlines (Southwest and JetBlue) are the ones with strong social presence on Facebook and Twitter.

In the column, "To-Do List for Facebook and E-mail Integration," I explained how to integrate Facebook with e-mail. Twitter is a different animal to integrate. Its 140-character limit and low-barrier application make it a more mobile phenomenon. Eighty percent of Twitter usage occurs on mobile devices.

Twitter for Business: Your Quick-Start Guide

Register your name. Beware of squatters, just like domains in the '90s. I registered twitter.com/GapMaternity in less than 30 seconds. If you registered a URL, then register the Twitter username. (If you work at the Gap, contact me. I'll turn it over. Everyone else, don't let this happen to you.)

Learn. Monitor how leading companies like Dell, Zappos, and SouthwestAir are using Twitter.

Listen to what Tweeters are saying about you. Many third-party Twitter readers, such as TweetDeck, will highlight Tweets that include your Twitter handle (example: @SouthwestAir), but you can also keeping a running search page open at Twitter Search. Refresh it periodically.

Plan for success. Define your goals and objectives. Dedicate one or more staffers to monitor and participate in conversations. Once customers find you on Twitter, many will use it for questions or comments. Think of staffing the way you do for inbound e-mail, but with an advantage: because questions are mostly public, you answer once for all like a forum. For marketing tweets, set up conversion tracking like you would for e-mail.

Create "shareworthy" content. What content could be exclusive to your Twitter channel? Understand what's useful, entertaining, or has perceived value. Make it easy to share or follow.

Integrate your Twitter efforts with marketing efforts in other channels, including e-mail. Promote your Twitter URL on your Web site, in e-mail messages, and other marketing materials. Explain the benefits of following you (such as insider info, special deals, advance sale notice, or flight delays). Promote this page just like you would an e-mail signup page.

Encourage subscribers to share your e-mail messages with their networks ("Share with your network," or SWYN). Explain what's in it for them. Don't just post links in an e-mail message. Make it easy to tweet and retweet.

Use customer tweets in your e-mail program, just as you would use some customer reviews.
Twitter Can Humanize Your Brand

When Twitter co-founder Biz Stone was asked about Eric Schmidt's comments, he replied that Twitter has some similarities to e-mail products but is really for discovering and sharing what is happening right now.

"We think it's important to introduce the power of a real-time network to even the weakest of signals around the world - as Twitter grows, we realize it's not about the triumph of technology, it's about the triumph of humanity," he said.

Use that insight in your Twitter program, your e-mail program and every other cross-channel program you have. Time to humanize your brand!

Source: Multibrief -- By Ed Henrich, ClickZ, Oct 15, 2009

Survive a Recession and Build Your Sales

Believe there is an answer -- be convinced that other have won in all kinds of difficult situation and are still winning, You can too.

Source: 16 Ways to Survive a Recession and Build Your Sales by Toni Harkins

Are you recession proof?

59% of Americans say the recession has affected their 2009 vacation plans. 31% are cutting back on the number of hotel nights; 27% plan to cut out airfare.

Source: Bigresearch.com

Five E-mail Marketing Mistakes to Avoid

Not paying enough attention to your e-mail marketing effort can lose you customers and compromise selling opportunities. While e-mail marketing is a great way to stay in contact with your customers, if handled badly it also has the power to ruin the relationship. You’ll respect your customers and get the most out of your e-mail marketing efforts by avoiding these five critical mistakes:

1. No Opt-out Clause

The U.S. CAN-SPAM Act 2003 requires that your commercial e-mails contain an unsubscribe link making it easy for a list member to unsubscribe from your e-mails. It also makes good business sense.

To avoid your e-mail being perceived as spam, make sure that every outgoing e-mail contains an opt-out link that the recipient can click to unsubscribe from the list. Make sure that the link works and make sure that the system is in place for managing the process effectively. Respecting your list members by doing this is a way of saying that you care about your business and your relationship with your customers.

2. Make Subscribing Too Difficult

Don't just make it easy to unsubscribe - make it easy to subscribe, too. If you don’t absolutely need certain information from subscribers, then don't ask for it. I have bypassed signing up for many an e-mail list because it required me to provide information I’m not comfortable providing just for the privilege of receiving a marketing e-mail, and I’m not alone.

You need to find a balance between the information that you ask subscribers to provide (knowing that the more that you ask for, the less likely it is that they will sign up) with your desire to build a quality list that not only helps you market your business but also, over time, develops into a valuable business asset.

3. E-mail Too Much or Not Enough

This is a Catch 22 problem. If you e-mail too often you run the risk of being perceived as a nuisance by your subscribers, and people may unsubscribe because there’s simply too much e-mail from you.

On the other hand, if you do not e-mail your subscribers often enough there’s a chance that they will forget that they subscribed to the list, and you may find yourself fielding questions as to why you’re sending them e-mails.

Whatever you do in terms of frequency of e-mailing always honor any statement that you made to the person when they signed up for your list. If you promised monthly e-mails then you should send out e-mails each month, not every two weeks.

If you’re going to increase the frequency of your e-mails, create a second list for new signups and only e-mail at the new frequency to the new list participants. Offer existing subscribers a means to move to the new lists but don't change how you e-mail them without their permission to do so.

4. No Feedback

If you don’t know what your list generates in the way of business, then you really have no way of knowing if your e-mails are a total waste of your time – for both you and your subscribers.

Good e-mail lists have tracking built into them so that you can analyze the response to your e-mail messages. At a minimum you should know how many people received your e-mail, how many e-mails bounced back, how many were actually opened and which links were clicked and how often.

Analyzing this information lets you target your e-mails better in future. For example, if no one clicks on a particular link, perhaps that link is in the wrong place in the e-mail or perhaps it just isn't interesting enough. Consider moving the content elsewhere or rewording the link and see if that gives better results. Analyzing your e-mail success helps you create e-mails that are more likely to sell.

5. No Added Value

If you’re reading this article, it’s a fair bet that you have an e-commerce site. But that doesn’t mean that all your efforts should be toward selling to your customer in a direct way. Your e-mail newsletter should be informative as well as a selling vehicle. Use your e-mails to inform your customers about your products, how to use them and how to maximize their use as well as to advise customers about special offers or new products.

An e-mail newsletter that combines information and a sales pitch is more likely to be opened and read on a regular basis than one that contains only the sales pitch.

Remember too that you don’t have to provide all the content in your e-mail message. You can include a few descriptive sentences and then place the rest of the article or story on your Web site or blog and link to that. This will help you get feedback as to how attractive these informative elements are to your readership as you can track who clicks the links.

Everyone who signed up to receive your e-mail newsletter has made a commitment to you and your business. They’ve said they want to receive information from you, and they trust you to provide it to them the way you said you would when they signed up.

Make sure that you honor the agreement. Provide your list subscribers with regular, informative content as well as offers that are relevant to them. Make sure to respect the relationship you have with your customers, and use your e-mail list to build a quality, long-term relationship with your customers.

Source -- MultiView, Helen Bradley is a respected international journalist writing regularly for small business and computer publications in the USA, Canada, South Africa, UK and Australia. You can learn more about her at her Web site, HelenBradley.com

How to Mange with Questions

The art of management often involves asking questions. Lots of them. Here's a list of ten questions to ask as you travel throughout your organization. If you ask these questions as part of your routine, you'll teach your people that their opinions matter.

1. What made you mad today?
2. What took too long?
3. What caused complaints today?
4. What was misunderstoofd today?
5. What cost too much?
6. What was wasted?
7. What was too complicated?
8. What was just plain silly?
9. What job involved too many pople?
10. What job involved too many actions?

Source: The Manager's Intelligence Adapted from TeleProfessional

Travel with Grandparents

And, 54% of the 70 Million are under age 65 according to Grandparents.com. They will spend $2 trillion in 2009 including $52 billion spent on their grandchildren. They will also spend $77 billion on travel.

What People Are Saying

It's critical to know what people are saying about your hotel, attraction, restaurant, destination, etc. A good resource is to use Google Alert. Daily emails give you a snapshot of both good and bad. It's critical to respond to negative news to help correct problems. Otherwise it could snowball.


-- Post From My iPhone

PUT THE "F" BACK INTO SOCIAL MEDIA AND FACEBOOK

BOSTON — “What is social media?” was simply a working title for Jim Delaney of Activate Sports during his recent presentation on the complex web of Facebook friend requests and Twitter status updates.

A more appropriate title, according to Delaney, would place a certain four-letter word in front of the phrase “social media,” prefaced with the preposition “the.” That title is too brash for these pages, but it does reflect the confusion many marketers face trying to make sure their social networking efforts are actually, ummm, working.

These days, those just coming on to the social networking scene are one step behind. Those just figuring out how to create a fan page or the meaning of ‘retweet’ have to play catch up with marketers who are working to develop a coherent strategy. The days of simply doing it, just for the sake of doing it, are so 2008.

“Throwing up a Facebook and Twitter page with posts from the office intern is not social media marketing,” said Delaney, contradicting the advice many marketers were giving out just one or two years back. The strategy, Delaney advised, is not to try and be everywhere at once. Instead, decide what social media sites best fit your customer demographic, develop a cohesive social networking strategy and then give it everything you’ve got.

Below are Delaney’s top 10 recommendations for developing a coherent social networking strategy.

1) IF NOTHING ELSE, GET IN THE GAME EARLY TO PROTECT YOUR BRAND

Delaney recommends registering your company’s trademarked name on as many social networking sites as possible. It’s common for ticket scalpers and other miscreants to register venues and artist names as a means to divert traffic onto resale sites. Delaney said sites like namechk.com allow users to check for name availability across a broad spectrum of social networking sites.

2) BUILD YOUR SOCIAL MEDIA FORTS

“Make sure you have a solid structure and plan in place to dedicate the proper resources to correctly develop a social networking strategy,” Delaney said. Once you know what resources you have at your disposal, begin strengthening the outlets you have in place.

3) GET A SCOUT IF YOU’RE LOST

IAAM and groups like the Event and Arena Marketing Conference are increasingly developing new educational tools for event professionals. Sites like mashable.com are great news sources for all things Twitter and Facebook.

4) BE READY FOR THE PARTY BEFORE INVITING ANYONE OVER

Before you start inviting people to follow you on Facebook or Twitter, make sure your profiles have a custom look and personality. Also, make sure you know the unique language of each social realm... before you start speaking.

5) GET SOCIAL AND DON’T BE AFRAID TO START CONVERSATIONS

A common misnomer regarding social media is that sites like Twitter are simply a means of broadcasting one’s thoughts to the world. Incorrect, Delaney said. Sites like Twitter and Facebook are for communicating directly with the customer, and an opportunity to build a free database of passionate fans.

6) OBAMA-FY YOUR MARKETING

President Barack Obama attributes much of his electoral success to his early use of multiple social networking platforms, and much has been written about his use of technology. Just as military generals study Sun Tzu’s “Art of War,” serious social marketers should bone up on their 2008 Presidential Election case studies.

7) DON’T BURY THE LEAD

Make sure to promote your social media links prominently on your website and via in-venue assets. Remember: You need to invite people to your party.

8) MONITOR THE CONVERSATIONS

Utilize free analytics tools such as Google Alerts, TweetReach and others to listen to what fans are saying about your venue and artists. Seek out new opportunities to connect.

9) REMEMBER — IT’S OK TO RESPOND

“People are talking about you, so don’t be afraid to talk back,” said Delaney, who recalled the bobblehead-gate episode that unfolded for Boston Red Sox owner John Henry.

Shortly after his wedding at Fenway Park, rumors began to swirl that Henry had given out tacky-looking bobbleheads to his wedding guests. The story got picked up by the Boston Herald gossip column, and made its way around the sports community.

Henry had little recourse to dispel the rumors, his staff assumed. After all, he was on his honeymoon in South Africa, and couldn’t be bothered with such triviality. But in between safaris and a meeting with Nelson Mandela, Henry managed to post an update on his Twitter page dispelling the rumors with a bit of good humor. CNBC sports business reporter Darren Rovell retweeted Henry’s dispatch, and found a good story for his daily blog, effectively dispelling the rumor.

“The story went around the world and back in less than an hour and no one spoke directly to each other,” Delaney said.

10) ENGAGE YOUR FANS

Have contests, giveaways — anything you can do to get people to interact with your social media site. The KISS Demand-It promotion with Eventful is an oft-cited example of the power of social networks, but Delaney said many venues are finding ways to boost involvement without the help of superstar acts.

Matt Johnson from the Rupp Arena in Lexington, Ky., has helped the facility start its own broadcast channel on YouTube, posting videos of floor changes, load-ins and even the circus elephant parade. Venues have plenty of content – the key is finding a way to deliver it your audience. — Dave Brooks

Source: THE BEAT MARKETING, Jim Delaney of Activate Sports.

Be Your Own Captain

No matter what your job, there are always ways to do something better than your predecessor. That's why you were hired.

You realize your failures weren't even failures. You just weren't as good as you thought you'd be.

Responsibility is only what you place on yourself.

Source: Mens Health Magazine Interview with Chris Pine

Making a Great First Impression!

It takes just a quick glance, maybe three seconds, for someone to evaluate you when you meet for the first time. In this short time, the other person forms an opinion about you based on your appearance, your body language, your demeanor, your mannerisms, and how you are dressed.

With every new encounter, you are evaluated and yet another person’s impression of you is formed. These first impression can be nearly impossible to reverse or undo, making those first encounters extremely important, for they set the tone for the all the relationships that follows.

So, whether they are in your career or social life, it’s important to know how to create a good first impression. This article provides some useful tips to help you do this.

Be on Time
The person you are meeting for the first time is not interested in your “good excuse” for running late. Plan to arrive a few minutes early. And allow flexibility for possible delays in traffic or taking a wrong turn. Arriving early is much better that arriving late, hands down, and is the first step in creating a great first impression.

Be Yourself, Be at Ease
If you are feeling uncomfortable and on edge, this can make the other person ill at ease and that’s a sure way to create the wrong impression. If you are calm and confident, so the other person will feel more at ease, and so have a solid foundation for making that first impression a good one.

Present Yourself Appropriately
Of course physical appearance matters. The person you are meeting for the first time does not know you and your appearance is usually the first clue he or she has to go on.

But it certainly does not mean you need to look like a model to create a strong and positive first impression. (Unless you are interviewing with your local model agency, of course!)

No. The key to a good impression is to present yourself appropriately.

They say a picture is worth a thousand words, and so the “picture” you first present says much about you to the person you are meeting. Is your appearance saying the right things to help create the right first impression?

Start with the way you dress. What is the appropriate dress for the meeting or occasion? In a business setting, what is the appropriate business attire? Suit, blazer, casual? And ask yourself what the person you'll be meeting is likely to wear - if your contact is in advertising or the music industry, a pinstripe business suit may not strike the right note!

For business and social meetings, appropriate dress also varies between countries and cultures, so it’s something that you should pay particular attention to when in an unfamiliar setting or country. Make sure you know the traditions and norms.

And what about your personal grooming? Clean and tidy appearance is appropriate for most business and social occasions. A good haircut or shave. Clean and tidy clothes. Neat and tidy make up. Make sure your grooming is appropriate and helps make you feel “the part”.

Appropriate dressing and grooming help make a good first impression and also help you feel “the part”, and so feel more calm and confident. Add all of this up and you are well on your way to creating a good first impression.

A Word about Individuality
The good news is you can usually create a good impression without total conformity or losing your individuality. Yes, to make a good first impression you do need to “fit in” to some degree. But it all goes back to being appropriate for the situation. If in a business setting, wear appropriate business attire. If at a formal evening social event, wear appropriate evening attire. And express your individuality appropriately within that context.

A Winning Smile!
“Smile and the world smiles too.”* So there’s nothing like a smile to create a good first impression. A warm and confident smile will put both you and the other person at ease. So smiling is a winner when it comes to great first impressions. But don't go overboard with this - people who take this too far can seem insincere and smarmy, or can be seen to be "lightweights".

(*Author Unknown)

Be Open and Confident
When it comes to making the first impression, body language as well as appearance speaks much louder than words.

Use your body language to project appropriate confidence and self-assurance. Stand tall, smile (of course), make eye contact, greet with a firm handshake. All of this will help you project confidence and encourage both you and the other person feel better at ease.

Almost everyone gets a little nervous when meeting someone for the first time, which can lead to nervous habits or sweaty palms. By being aware of your nervous habits, you can try to keep them in check. And controlling a nervous jitter or a nervous laugh will give you confidence and help the other person feel at ease.

Small Talk Goes a Long Way…
Conversations are based on verbal give and take. It may help you to prepare questions you have for the person you are meeting for the first time beforehand. Or, take a few minutes to learn something about the person you meet for the first time before you get together. For instance, does he play golf? Does she work with a local charitable foundation?

Is there anything that you know of that you have in common with the person you are meeting? If so, this can be a great way to open the conversation and to keep it flowing.

Be Positive
Your attitude shows through in everything you do. Project a positive attitude, even in the face of criticism or in the case of nervousness. Strive to learn from your meeting and to contribute appropriately, maintaining an upbeat manner and a smile.

Be Courteous And Attentive
It goes without saying that good manners and polite, attentive and courteous behavior help make a good first impression. In fact, anything less can ruin the one chance you have at making that first impression. So be on your best behavior!

One modern manner worth mentioning is “turn off your mobile phone”. What first impression will you create if you are already speaking to someone other than the person you are meeting for the first time? Your new acquaintance deserves 100% of your attention. Anything less and you’ll create a less than good first impression.

Key Points
You have just a few seconds to make a good first impression and it’s almost impossible ever to change it. So it’s worth giving each new encounter your best shot. Much of what you need to do to make a good impression is common sense. But with a little extra thought and preparation, you can hone your intuitive style and make every first impression not just good but great.

Source: MindTools.com

6 best tips to online cost effective marketing

Is your business experiencing stagnation with the Recession? If so, continue reading.

Five years ago, did you see this economic recession coming? Perhaps, you did to a lesser extent, but you didn’t really think it was going to be this bad, right? With that said, companies have to gain leverage and position themselves to their markets by becoming the number one choice to consumers through cost effective marketing.

However, with traditional advertising costs through the roof, companies need to find more effective ways to target their markets, specifically through online media outlets – public relations, banner advertising, SEO, blogging, and branding.

Here some low cost ways of effective advertising:
1. Research and understand the goals, values, and behaviors of your market. Once you have a thorough understanding of your market, you will know how to deliver messages effectively.
2. If you decide to hire an agency to manage your advertising, make sure you are the only account they are managing in your market. If the company manages any competitors, look elsewhere.
3. Tell your market what your USP is and why you are better than all the rest of your competition. A USP is the Unique Selling Proposition, the one element that makes your business better than everyone else’s business (superior customer service, late hours, 24 hour customer service, best prices, or highest quality).
4. Use the right places to advertise online. There is nothing worse then placing an advertisement in a food e-magazine (that has little or no relevance to your market) when you are trying to sell cosmetics, which should be placed in a fashion e-magazine or some other complementary publication.
5. Create an irresistible offer. You want to attract prospects and make them contact you immediately. Offer a discount for first time buyers; offer an introductory period, or a gift that has a high perceived value.
6. Diversify your marketing efforts. Use online advertising, blogging, social media marketing with branding and public relations to get the best results. You should also determine where your marketing dollars are generating the best ROI to prevent careless spending.

Source: Kristin Marquet is an Examiner from New York

Marketers and Exhibition Management Increasingly Blend Live and Digital Media for Greater Performance

Marketers and Exhibition Management Increasingly Blend Live and Digital Media for Greater Performance

10.) 40% of respondents consider digital marketing to be a vital component in the execution of live event; 17% consider it a lead tactic.
9.) 49% of respondents use digital marketing to extend the reach of their event promotion efforts with digital marketing most often used in pre-event outreach (87%).
8.) E-mail marketing is the digital marketing tactic most used by exhibition production (95%) and corporate brand marketers (87%).
7.) 40% of corporate brand marketers and 31% of exhibition production marketers report using virtual events; 71% of respondents use virtual events to accommodate geographically widespread workforces and customers.
6.) The webinar (81%) is the most commonly used virtual event type among respondents.
5.) 51% of exhibition production respondents report always integrating digital marketing tactics in the promotion of events; 37% of corporate brand marketers characterize their use of digital marketing as frequent.
4.) Respondents dedicate 10% of their exhibition production budget to digital marketing sponsorship tactics.
3.) 46% of respondents measure the effectiveness of their digital marketing efforts; 50% of respondents measure ROI for virtual events.
2.) Event activity sponsorship (16%) and speaking opportunities (16%), followed by e-mail marketing/advertising (14%) are the exhibition sponsorship options respondents perceive as providing the greatest ROI.
1.) 72% of respondents feel that the integration of digital marketing into the promotion of exhibition programs increases the effectiveness of the overall effort.

Source: Center for Exhibition Industry Research

Is Social Media the New Punk Rock

Check this out if you have any doubts -- I want to believe

Taking a Second Look at E-Mail

When I started to write this column, I ran into a problem. I couldn't think of anything exciting in e-mail to write about. Call it e-mail marketer writer's block. This got me thinking: Has e-mail marketing gotten to a point where we have nothing new to talk about? Has this industry matured enough that we now just need to focus on the tried-and-true acquire, convert, retain principals?

Then it hit me.

The e-mail marketing industry could never land in this type of rut. As the backbone of all other digital media, our e-mail efforts will keep growing and evolving as new technologies do. For those of us who choose to ignore the power that e-mail marketing can have as an influencer for other channels (like social and mobile), e-mail will remain a fairly cut-and-dried direct marketing practice. The rest of us, though, have reason to celebrate.

Here's a list of some newer aspects of e-mail you should be aware of. If you haven't considered these as part of your strategy, what are you waiting for?

Acquisition-focused upgrades:

1. Tiered performance pricing for prospecting

2. E-mail as a branding tool

3. E-mail to feed into social networks

4. Mobile e-mail

Conversion:

1. Social/micro-messaging options

2. Channel/source optimization

3. Preference center enhancements

4. Win-back advancements

Retainment:

1. Partner-oriented value add

2. Inventory management

3. Co-op marketing

4. Social influencing

5. Video in e-mail

Out of all of these new initiatives, my recent favorite is partner oriented-value add. This is where customer e-mail programs include some type of unanticipated reward for reading the e-mail. Unanticipated rewards have been around a long time in marketing but have rarely been used in e-mail. That's because e-mail marketing was historically such a high conversion channel that this tactic was rarely needed. But in today's world of inbox overload and channel integration, e-mail needs a little sweetener. Including a valuable, unanticipated reward packs a one-two punch. Here's how:

In a recent column, I wrote about a new segment in our e-mail lists: the social influencers. These people aren't always your best click-and-buy people, but they are the best people to share, post, and talk about your recent e-mail effort (which results in even more sales than if they bought themselves).

When these people receive an e-mail from you that contains an unanticipated reward, something that they enjoy, you'll increase their level of loyalty to your brand. That's important. Equally important, or even more so, these people will share that great news and your generosity with others through social networks and online water-cooler conversations.

This opens up a whole new world of opportunity for you to attract new customers and increase revenues simply by adding unexpected value into your messaging.

Yes, the world of e-mail is nowhere near tired and old just yet. As new developments and trends rise, e-mail is right there to help maximize exposure and monetize results.

I love being a part of the e-mail industry. Don't you?


Source: Jeanniey Mullen, ClickZ, Jun 22, 2009, Sponsored by Responsys

Develop a Balanced Media Mix

The tools that drive the Internet are the tried and true print, radio, and television formats. The challenge lies in developing a balanced media mix.

Source: Bob Walker, Media Analyst Preprint Publishing

The Three Buckets of Courage

TRY -- the courage of action and pioneering "first attempts."
Associated with having initiative and leading. Requires overcoming inertia. Risks are your actions may harm others.

TRUST -- the courage of relying on the actions of others.
Associated with being receptive and open and following. Requires letting go of control. Risks are other people's actions may harm you.

TELL -- the courage of "voice" and truth telling
Associated with truth telling and asserting one's opinions. Requires conviction. Risks are exposing your opinions may cause you to be cast out of the group.

Source: Giant Leap Consulting

Best Practices for DMO Web Sites

Successful DMOs are harnessing the power of hte Internet and technology to streamline their processes and produce more results to the bottom line.

Source: IACVB News, Leah Woolfold, CEO of USDM.net

Changes in Dining Habits.

Dining has also been impacted by economic upheavals, with one-third of consumers visiting 'upscale' dining establishments less often (35%), and a simlar number cutting back on their visits to 'mid-priced' casual restaurants (30%).

A multiplicity of reasons account for this:  consumers not only want to "save money," they also now view "prices at restaurants" and the "price of gas" as more important barriers to their frequency of dining out.  On the other hand, reports are that fast food restaurants have seen little or no decline.

Source: The Marketing Workshop

Changes in Consumer Travel

Last summer, almost half of the traveling public (47%) reported that they had changed their travel plans during 2008. Travelers were less likely to take a vacation at all (21%), took fewer trips (18%), stayed closer to home (17%), used less expensive accommodations (13%) or stayed fewer days (11%). Obviously, many made more than one of these changes in behavior.

These changes were especially prevalent among younger, lower income households, and families with children.

Today, nine months later, an even higher proportion of travelers (62%) say that their 2009 travel plans will be impacted. Now, one-half (49%) will reduce the number of trips they take, and 37% will reduce the distance they travel, staying closer to home for fewer nights. For this reason, many travel marketers have redefined their marketing area, generally to driving distances within 300 or so miles, with less dependence upon air travel.

Source: Research and Travel Consultants The Marketing Workshop

Selling the Experience

Many tourism entities realize they are no longer selling travel products. They have moved into the arena of selling travel experiences. Selling experiences will change the way any travel or tourism organization will approach the consuming public.

Source: Travel Insights 

Customer Service -- the hot potato treatment

When someone calls for information, they expect an answer from the first or second person to whom they speak. Clients do not enjoy being passed around the office as staffers vaguely guess at an answer. (Nor do they like having to repeat their question over and over.) The runaround signals that nobody knows what they are doing. If the expert is not in, take a message and have that person call back promptly.

Source: On Tour Newsletter, Summer 2008 

Medical Tourism

Medical tourism is an unintended consequence of the rise of centers of excellence within healthcare.

Source Robert Crone, MD President Harvard Medical International 

Cooking is the another market segment

After 50 years of sampling international cuisine, Americans have become quite sophisticated in what they eat - and, as a result, they are beginning to seek exotic flavors with almost frantic zeal. To satisfy this American palate, recreational cooking programs are popping up everywhere.

Source: Go 7/08 

Encouragement

The true measure of a man is how he treats someone who can do him absolutely no good.

Samuel Johnson

Defeating the De-Motivator

The sweet strains of a Puccini aria cut through the Saturday night
clatter of the busy Italian restaurant in New York City, but it
wasn’t coming from the aging voice of the Sicilian baritone who was
hired to belt out favorites like Funiculi-Funicula. It was a soprano
whose crystal clear voice filled the room. Within moments all the
ambient noise came to a halt. Diners stopped eating and talking,
busboys stopped clearing tables, the cooks even came out of the
kitchen.

Singing on the tiny stage was the skinny moon-faced waitress from
Ohio. The Sicilian heard she studied opera, so he invited her to join
him, but what began as a duet ended in solo as he too was mesmerized
by the beauty of her voice. When she finished, the place thundered in
applause and I saw tears of gratitude glistening in her eyes. She had
hit each note perfectly.

If only she had done that when she auditioned for the Metropolitan
Opera. But she choked, flinched, allowed a seed of doubt to creep
into her consciousness and thus her voice.

She told me her story over a couple of beers after work. It was the
fall of 1984, and I was a fellow waiter at the restaurant; just
another struggling artist in the city that never sleeps. She
explained that she got nervous during her audition and couldn’t hit
the high notes. She would get one more chance to audition, but she
would have to wait an entire year.

I never found out if she made it; as a writer my art is portable and
a few months later I moved to a city where they still have a bedtime.
I suspect she did, because that night she received a proof - a vital
beginning step.

Doubt is a silent killer. We transmit feelings of doubt to others
through subtleties in our body language, facial expression and tone
of voice. It is picked up subconsciously by those with whom we
communicate. Worse than that, we communicate it to ourselves, and it
seeps into our performance. Doubt is the De-Motivator and all too
often it prevents us from even trying.

We all suffer doubt occasionally, and its cure is always the same:
proof. Proof that we are indeed talented enough to do what we set
out to do. A proof doesn’t need to be big to eliminate doubt. A
series of little ones can be just as effective.

I keep a journal - a log - of accomplishments. Both small and large,
because they all add up to reasons for believing in my abilities. It
is especially important to log the little ones, because they are so
easy to forget or overlook, and yet they carry tremendous weight when
it comes to giving ourselves confidence.

You say, “ I’m just starting out and have no accomplishments.” That
just means you’re not looking in the right places. We all have
successes, some of them may be found in different areas of your life.
I often read in the Wall Street Journal about women, who after years
as stay-at-home Moms, return to the work force in well-paid
management positions. They acquire these jobs by citing in their
resumes the many skills and achievements they learned through their
volunteer work. What talents are you racking up through your hobbies
and leisure activities?

Sometimes proof comes to us by comparing ourselves to others. Simply
ask yourself, “Out of all the people who have ever lived, how many
have attained what I want?” The sheer numbers alone will often be
all the proof you need.

When all else fails, fall back on faith. Some of the most successful
people in the world had absolutely no proof that they could achieve
their dreams. All they had was a strong desire and a belief in
themselves. As Martin Luther King, Jr. once said, “Take the first
step in faith. You don't have to see the whole staircase, just take
the first step.”

Source: Robert Evans Wilson, Jr. is a motivational speaker and humorist. He
works with companies that want to be more competitive and with people
who want to think like innovators. For more information on Robert's
programs please visit www.jumpstartyourmeeting.com. 

The Code of the West

1. Live each day with courage
2. Take pride in your work
3. Always finish what you start
4. Do what has to be done
5. Be tough, but fair
6. When you make a promise, keep it
7. Ride for the brand
8. Talk less and say more
9. Remember that some things aren't for sale
10. Know where to draw the line

What a leader must do

Lead authentically -- leaders must always actin ways that are consistent with their values.

Lead with integrity -- leaders must be a leader all the time. The different aspects of a leader's life fit together coherently and consistently

Lead with creativity -- leaders must courageously re-think how work gets done while embracing and initiating change

Source: GACVB Certification Program 2009 

Successful Traits -- Style

"Dare to be different," says speaker and author Debbie Allen. "All the truly successful people have found ways to distinquish themselves from the pack. You don't have to be outrageous - although you might be -- but it's important to develop a personal brand. Then, one way or another, people will remember you."

Source: Selling Power, New Solutions for Managers 

Successful Traits -- Position

"Successful people get themselves in front of the people who can make a difference in their lives, their careers, and where they want to go," says speaker and author Debbie Allen. "If there's someone in their community they admire, they ask them to lunch. They work with consultants and coaches to take their business to the next level. They look for ways to co-market with like-minded businesses. I say fine people who scare you a little bit, who are at a higher level and stretch you out of your confort zone. There are the contracts who empower you."

Source: Selling Power, New Solutions for Managers 

Successful Traits -- Repetition

Successful people know how to put themselves out there on a regular basis, " says Debbie Allen, speaker and author of Confessions of a Shameless Self Promoters. "Self promotion and relationship building become habits with them, and when something doesn't work, they don't even consider giving up. Most people say, 'Oh, I blew that; maybe I should give up," but successful people just dust themselves off and go in another direction."

Source: Selling Power, New Solutions for Manager 

Advice after loosing a sale

When you don't make that big sale, it's natural to be down on yourself. But expert motivator Dr. Wayne Dyer warns not to invest too much of your confidence in a single sale.

"You don't need to interpret a lost sale as a rejection of yourself," he says. "If you need the sale to prove your self-worth, you will end up trying too hard. You'll be communicating that if you don't get it, you're going to be hurt, you're going to feel bad. So you'll come across as pushy; you'll be tempted to use guilt. All of this comes from needing the sale. But you've got the choice to turn this around by conveying to that prospect, 'If I make the sale, that's terrific. If I don't, that's fine too. I like you, and maybe we'll do business some other time.'"

Adapted from Be In It to Win, part of The Selling Power Success Library, published by McGraw Hill.

Source: Selling Power, article by Lisa Gschwandtner 

Added Value

As we approach the summer travel season, I see more and more articles talking about how important it is for destinations to provide added value to the public. This can be simply a two for one coffee at a fast food restaurant, complimentary iced tea, free wi-fi, or as I have observed by some national advertising by hotel chains, buy two nights, get the third night free. Disney and Vegas have been doing this since news of the slow down in economy became headline news. Something to think about.

The CVB's travel consultants advised that each destination look at offering "value" that would impact market segments -- from leisure travel to conventions & meetings. AAA announced that it expects to see a higher than usual travel season this Memorial Day with that surge lasting throughout most of the summer. Seems that the economy and gas inching up over $2 a gallon won't have much impact.

We've put together some packages that will be sent to our "best customer" list to lure them to the area. Our web site has an enhanced booking engine along with suggested itineraries on how to make Columbus an ideal getaway. And most important, our visitor intercept surveys show a growing number of individual travelers picking Columbus as a "get-a-way" -- meaning they're choosing to come to our city and overnight; perhaps because their dollar buys more and our experiences have a broader appeal and uniqueness about them. And of course, our message is getting out there in a variety of campaigns we introduced over the past 18 to 24 months. Repetition and consistency is what advertising and marketing 101 taught us.

We'll keep our eye on the trends as they shift and change to make certain all resources are focused on the target. If you have any ideas or read something that could make a difference, send it our way.

Why 'generic selling' won't work

Customers won't listen to your salespeople's solution unless they believe your sales force really cares about their unique situation. Your salespeople have to do their homework -- and ask questions that prove their dedicatoin to helping each individual customer. Instead of asking generic questions that might apply to anyone -- like "What are your main business objectives?" -- have your salespeople spotlight specifics; "Your annual report notes that division X grew substaintially last year. What made you decide to devote resources to that area?"

Targeted questions that establish your credibillity will build trust needed to win sales.

Source: Adapted from "Three strategies (and how to use them) to make your sales funnel flow faster," by Michael J. Webb, on MarketingProfs.com 

Role and Mission

It may be too simple to say that a convention and visitors bureau sell cities, but in reality, that is their primary mission. Bureaus are charged with the task of development an image that will position their cities in the marketplace as a viable destination for meetings and visitors. They then have to coordinate those constituent elements in order to attain that desired image.

Bureaus have another important role, working with meeting planners and group planners. The bureau is the key resource for planners who need assistance in a a number areas -- contact names, location information, locating necessary facilities, and acting as a convention management consultant. The bureau acts as the broker or liaison between the planner and the host destination and its resources.

Bureaus also serve as a city's information center and by responding to visitor inquiries. This information can be anything from hotels, restaurants, attractions, shopping, recreation, and entertainment opportunities. The CVB is essentially a visitor's one stop shopping center for ideas and information.

Source: Destination Marketing for Convention & Visitors Bureaus by Richard Gartell 

Ask your question -- then be patient

One of your discussion skills is likely to be the quick formulation of questions to direct at your employees. The problem is that many questions, especially important ones, can't be answered all that quickly. How long should you wait for a response? Sales expert Jill Konarath suggest being patient for as long as 8 to 10 seconds before rephrasing the question. While waiting, sit attentively but not tensely and don't fidget. This can be hard! However, it's worthwhile because you'll get better answers.

Source -- Adapted from the LawMarketing Portal Web Site, The Managers Intelligence Report 

Don't sweat -- or cut -- the small stuff

This year will be tough for a lot of companies, perhaps including yours, and pressure to save money will increase. You'll wonder "What -- and how much of it -- should I cut?" or "What shouldn't I cut?" Of the latter, refrain from axing perks such as coffee, occasional food treats, and long-established company parties, outings, and other celebrations. At times when people are fearful and withdraw into themselves, events that draw them out and offer factual proof that they're not alone benefit the organization as well as the workforce.

Source: The Manager's Intelligence Report 

Weathering the Storm

The Fundamentals
To weather the uncertainty that lies ahead and make the best use of time and resources, I propose that you and I make this the year to return to (or reinforce) the fundamentals of success.

Every day, you lay the groundwork for your unfolding success story. What you choose to do now, at this moment, will determine how you handle adversity, and how you are positioned when new opportunities materialize down the road.
It’s not about the weather. It’s about the whether – Whether or not you are willing to take action.

Into Action
Make 2009 your year to:
1. Develop Daily Discipline – What are you doing every day to sharpen your ax, improve yourself (Exercise is free), or create a new opportunity? I don’t mean a once in a while effort, or a heroic, desperate, “Hail Mary Pass” approach to change. What do you do every day to prepare for the opportunities that await you?
2. Build Relationships – With so many people in need of help, support, and friendship, this is an important time to focus on helping others. Make it part of your purpose to care for those in need, and you’ll benefit immediately (from the joy and fulfillment), and for years to come (due to the lasting relationships you’ll foster).
3. Embrace Sound Business Practices – Now is the time to get back to basics, with regard to your finances. Make value based decisions. Conserve costs where you can. Leverage your resources, and make the most use of what you have.
4. Go to School – During this year, learn something new. Become a beginner again. This is an important time to remain humble and become more skilled or more knowledgeable in your chosen field.

Source: Dan Thurman, Peak Performance Coach 

The Georgia Made Georgia Grown Database is LIVE!

In September of 2007 the Georgia Creative Economies Program, launched by the Georgia Department of Economic Development's Tourism Foundation, began an ambitious project to unify and market arts-based businesses in Georgia called the Georgia Made Georgia Grown Initiative. Georgia Made Georgia Grown is a forum to network and raise awareness of the State’s artscentric business people – artists, craft makers, authors, entertainers, those who make food products - operating on a grassroots, cottage industry basis. Consisting of both traditional and innovative creations made in Georgia, by Georgia residents, these products are designed to bring quality, ecology, and local flavor back into the marketplace. A primary goal of the program is to demonstrate to Georgians and visitors to the State where to buy Georgia Made and serve Georgia Grown. After months of research and planning, the much anticipated database has gone live! It is easy to use and is an excellent resource to market an arts-centric business, shop for unique corporate gift items, bring locally produced goods into a gift shop, hire an original entertainer for an event, commission a portrait honoring a mentor, host a reception highlighted by Georgia made delicacies, or find an event for a special group. Check it out at www.gamadegagrown.org!

Let customers make appointments for you

Taking sales appointments online could be the smartest time-management move you'll ever make. With TimeDriver, customers can go online at any time of the day or night, explore a menu of services, check your availability, and schedule a sales appointment. TimeDriver is geared specifically for individuals whose business relies on scheduling many appointments, such as sales and service professionals in large organizations. The idea is to make things convenient for customers while minimizing the overhead in email back and forth or phone tag.

TimeDriver is the first on-demand solution that allows a sales pro to book a steady flow of appointments through a Website visit or email outreach. TimeDriver requires nothing more than a Web browser and an existing Google or Outlook calendar, and the company offering TimeDriver, Massacheusetts-based Time Trade, is offering it as a free service.

Sales pros using TimeDriver should see an immediate increase in bookings and will spend far less time juggling appointment books. Early testers reported an average in increase and confirmed meetings of 56 percent and a drastic 76 percent in reduction of backand forth meeting negotiations.

For more information, go to www.timetrade.com.

Source: Selling Power

Success

It takes as much stress to be a success as it does to be a failure.

SOURCE: Emilio James Trujillo, Haight Street Armchair Philosopher

Seven steps for recovering from a setback

1. Tell someone about it
2. Don't take it so seriously
3. Sharpen your objectivity
4. Remember past catastrophes that you can now look back on and laugh about
5. Change your perspective -- lots of people have it a lot worse
6. Listen to a comedian and laugh it up
7. Be amused -- everyone makes mistakes!

SOURCE: Dana Ray Selling Power Magazine 

How to set an effective goal

An effective goal is always connected to what you're trying to achieve and how you need the audience to think or behave in order for you to get what you want. Because you have a stake in the outcome, you need to be "activist" in your thinking.

Envision your communication as a series of movements in a chess game. You need to think three to five moves ahead in order to win the business. You may not be able to close a multi-million dollar deal with a single presentation, but each communication can lay the groundwork for an eventual close. Each communication, therefore, needs a specific goal, which leads to and reinforces the final goal, which is to turn a prospect into a customer or a customer in a even bigger and better customer. Taking this long-term approach helps you avoid pressuring customers to close before they're ready.

Source: Selling Power Magazine, Dean Brenner, "Sales on Target" 

This question will help you hire the top talent in your industry

At the end of the interview, when the candidates think the interview is over, ask them one final question: "If I met your former boss at a social function, and asked to hear just one sentence about you, what would that sentence be?" Candidates will not be able to load their answers with fluff, and you should get a pretty accurate picture of the candidates. You can also see how fast they can think on their feet.

Source: Adapted from Communications Briefing, Employee Recruitment & Retention 

Choose happiness

You're struggling with the same issues that plague your employees. In fact, you probably have more balls in the air than they do. And how you handle your hardships will have a significant impact on how employees view theirs. If you fret, grumble, and focus on negatives, you can expect employees to match your sour mood. But when you smile in the face of adversity, they're more likely to adopt your positive attitude.

Source: The Motivational Manager, July 2008 

Discover the secrets to surviving tough challenges

Why do some people seem better able than others to weather life's storms? They learned the secrets of resilience. To handle whatever comes your way:

Focus on the Big Picture. learn to enjoy the good times and take lessons from the bad. Life has peaks and valley's. The sum total of your existence doesn't rest on one negative event.

Face the facts. Survivors don't waste their time with denial or their energy wishing things could be as they once were. Accept reality.

Learn to improvise. Develop and undestanding of your strengths and weaknesses. Then look for creative solutions that play to your strengths.

Source: "How resilience works," by Diane L. Coutu, in the Harvard Business Review 

One good reminder for all employees

A good question to explore with your workforce: Do employees understand the difference their work makes? Spell out their impact on customer, colleagues, and the organization as a whole. Employees who don't feel that their activities make any difference are likely to be discontented, burned out, and ready to leave. Show your people the results of their efforts: satisfied customer, a better workplace, a healthy bottom line. They'll be more fulfilled ad less likely to look elsewhere for meaning.

Source: Adapted from "Change management: Seven change management secrets to creating a winning culture of change," by Ed Sykes, on the Sykes Group Web site. 

Did you know...

1. Number of calls required to close a deal - Increased
2. More decision makers/stakeholders meant more sales calls
3. Length of the sell cycle - Increased
4. A decision by the committee to hold off buying anything altogether meant an increase in no decisions.

Source: Successful Selling in Turbulent Times, CSO Insights 

Selling tips

1. Sales Cycle is Longer: 22% longer when compared to 2001.
2. More People Involved: Average of 3.5 more people involved in enterprise decisions
3. Solutions Focus: 79% of marketing campaigns are solutions based.
4. Face to Face Calls: Average sales rep spends only 21% of their time face to face with prospects and customers.

Source: Sirius Decisions, B2B Advances in Lead Management 

Be cautious, but positive -- tips for safety & travel during this flu outbreak

This article was recently sent by Southeast Tourism Society -- Southeast Tourism Society is trying to sort through the copious amount of information concerning the Swine Influenza (swine flu) outbreak. While we try to separate fact from hype, we present a few central points concerning the situation and how it affects the travel and tourism industry.

Below you will find basic talking points about what is known. These tips are courtesy of the U.S. Travel Association. For more information on the latest events from a travel and tourism perspective, visit http://www.ustravel.org/pressmedia/pressrec.asp?Item=961.

Southeast Tourism Society will keep you informed as the situation develops.

The Experts Say: Cause for Concern, Not Panic

• Travelers, like all citizens, should heed the advice of experts when determining how best to manage health concerns.
• According to the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Swine Influenza (swine flu) should not discourage people from traveling to or within the United States.
• The top US disease control official rejected as unwarranted an EU warning that discouraged Europeans from traveling to the United States due to the swine flu. "At this point, I would not put out a travel restriction or recommendation against coming to the United States," said Richard Besser, acting head of the CDC. ! !
• According to the CDC, individuals should take common sense steps to protect themselves, including: "wash your hands…get plenty of sleep, be physically active, manage your stress, drink plenty of fluids, and eat nutritious food."

Inform Travelers Responsibly, Without Discouraging Economic Activity

• Governments and opinion leaders around the world must strike a delicate balance of accurately and adequately informing citizens of health concerns without unduly discouraging travel and other important economic activity.
• Unnecessary panic has the potential to paralyze travel and further America's ongoing economic crisis.
• Recent health concerns, such as Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) and Avian flu, provide useful guidance as governments, opinion leaders and travelers consider the appropriate response to swine flu.
• The 2003 SARS outbreak, in which 75 deaths were reported worldwide yet more than 750 stories were written in the New York Times and Washington Post alone, was an example of an "infodemic" rather than an "epidemic."
• According to the Asian Development Bank, the cost of SARS in terms of lost GDP for East and Southeast Asia was $18 billion, primarily through downturns in tourist arrivals. Tourist arrivals in the most affected economies declined by 20 - 70 percent in April 2003, one month following the announcement of the SARS pandemic. Lesser affected Asian countries experienced declines of 15 - 35 percent, leading to a loss of nearly $15 billion in economic impact.

Travel Industry Is an Important Resource to Government, Consumers

• STS says it is ready to assist the U.S. government and health experts in communicating critical information to travelers.
• The U.S. Travel Association has contacted all relevant agencies with an offer to help "in any way needed." These agencies include the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Departments of Health and Human Services, Homeland Security, State and Transportation.

The Rise of the C-Tweet

Points to Consider for Twitter-Friendly CEOs and CMOs

by Jonathan Paisner 

Published: April 21, 2009

Social media has obviously given voice to employees in ways that never existed before. Early corporate bloggers were often brand enthusiasts themselves and tended to "get" the brand a gut level; soon enough, voice and tone guidelines became more actively put in play to govern blog writing. But Twitter is different. The nature of the medium encourages users to transmit an interchangeable mix of musings about life, work, daily observations and whatever else. Employees on Twitter are either designated brand ambassadors or simply have personal accounts -- and these lines of distinction help offer guidance. But that line grays with the advent of the "C-Tweet." C-level execs are part-lead ambassador, part-celebrity. Twitter accounts can build a cult of personality and extend a dynamic that has long existed for top CEOs into a broader set of C-level executives.

Zappos CEO Tony Hsieh has come to be considered the gold standard for CEO tweeting, thanks to a comfortable style that leverages both the brand he helped create and his own personal voice.

Among C-level execs, Twitter holds an allure as a seemingly simple vehicle to communicate thought leadership while staying connected to the market. Yet a daily supply of profundities in 140-character increments is a lot harder to pull off than it sounds. One natural obstacle blogs offered was the demand to actually have to write. Twitter is much less intimidating -- and the immediacy and ostensible intimacy of the platform may suggest that it is perfectly alright for executives to say things ranging from "Wow that was a delicious hamburger! Jalapenos, yum" to "Holding firm in my negotiations with Yahoo right now." And herein lies the greatest challenge of the C-Tweet: Where does the voice of the brand end and the voice of the individual begin?

Notable tweeting CMOs include Jeffrey Hayzlett of Kodak (@jeffreyhayzlett) and Barry Judge of Best Buy (@BestBuyCMO) -- each of whom ties his account closely to his brand. And each interprets the boundaries between the personal voice and the voice of the brand a bit differently. Of course, each brand has different social-media agendas that these executives are trying to push forward -- with variables ranging from the brands themselves and the strategic objectives to the audiences they serve (and aim to serve) and the styles of these individuals. Is there a blueprint for doing this right?

Tony Hsieh (@zappos), Zappos CEO, has come to be considered the gold standard for CEO tweeting, thanks to a comfortable style that leverages both the brand he helped create and his own personal voice. And he has gained a reputation for responsiveness and accessibility via Twitter that has come to epitomize the entire Zappos aesthetic. Padmasree Warrior (@padmasree), Cisco CTO, has also built a successful account on Twitter, finding that balance between business and personal that offers some good, relevant insight into the Cisco brand while putting a very human voice on a heretofore more removed role. While Hsieh's efforts are overtly endorsed by the Zappos brand, Warrior's does not carry the official endorsement of the Cisco brand.

As we see more such accounts in the rise of the C-Tweet, three things to think about:

1.The objective
An executive's objectives for a Twitter account are likely a mix of the brand's interest and self-interest. A simple rule of thumb here: If it is conspicuously endorsed by the brand (via the account name or use of the logo, for example), then the objectives should directly align with the vision and mission of the brand. If the brand is merely a description of the executive's occupation, there is more room for flexibility. And, with an endorsed account in particular, have a discussion with internal counsel to set up some basic legal guardrails before you jump in.

2. The commitment
Twitter is a hungry beast. If you're truly in it, you've got to tweet. Conventional wisdom seems to have it at somewhere between five to 10 tweets per day as the minimum for an active account with a healthy following. Generating 30 to 50 compelling, pithy statements (or links or retweets) each week may sound simple, but it can easily turn into a chore. Carve out time in the day to address this need -- to feed the beast without turning this into a distraction.

3. The exit strategy
Admittedly, this is a tough one -- considering the lifespan of Twitter itself and the questions that may exist around its own future. At the end of the day, an executive's account will be more of a reflection on him or her than it is on the brand. Executive impermanence is a fact of life -- and while creating deeper connections between a brand and its key executives can have tremendous value for partners, customers, analysts, employees and investors, an executive's inevitable departure along with several hundred thousand Twitter followers is likely to sting a bit. A strong Twitter following is becoming a brand asset -- and succession planning for the future of this asset is an important consideration. It may be worthwhile to try to mirror an executive's Twitter following within a more overtly corporate account. Or perhaps encourage junior executives to build their own followings, assuming this does not conflict with the points above.

Twitter is yet another example of where brands have to accept a loss of control. In this case, it is not about putting the brand in the hands of the market but in the hands of the people for whom the brand is their livelihood. A certain amount of letting go is a necessity. We will undoubtedly see a few missteps in C-tweets, and we'll learn and move on. Ultimately, the medium may change but basics of branding still apply -- both for the brands themselves and for their executive stewards: Be true, be relevant, be transparent, respect your brand and your customers, don't make a promise you can't keep.

Jonathan Paisner is brand director at CoreBrand. He works with Fortune 500 clients in areas of brand architecture, strategic alliances and brand messaging. CoreBrand clients have included Cisco Systems, AT&T, Internet2, ADP, TV Guide, American Century Investments and BearingPoint.

Encourage employees to dial back workplace tension

As if the usual seasonal hassles weren't enough, this year you can add layoff fears, financial woes, and uncertainty about a new president. So how can you keep the heightened tension from disrupting workplace moral?

10. It's difficult to remember 10 rules -- keep it simple: Treat others as you hope they'll treat you.

Source: The Motivational Manager 

Write it well, keep it safe

You've heard lots of techniques for e-mailing. Nonetheless, it's easy to forget why the big fuss. Here's why: E-mail is "slippery" and "sticky." It's slippery because it can be passed on so easily, and even accidentally. It's sticky because it can be stored -- and restored - easily, too, meaning that it doesn't go away. Out of mind does not mean out of sight. That's why it's so important that your e-mails are well-written an sensible.

Source: Adapted from The Hamster Revolution, by Mike Song, Vicki Halsey, and Tim Burress

Planners eye 2009 with apprehension, see need to prove worth

More than 2,000 meeting professionals agree: The biggest challenges they face in 2009 are the economy, proving the value of meetings and events, and enacting cost-saving measures. A record 2,740 Meetings Professional International (MPI) members, representing 53 countries, responded to the FutureWatch 2009 survey between Nov. 11 and 27, 2008.

Survey participants reported that out of all scheduled 2009 events, an average of 3.4 meetings per organization, at an average value of $200,000 per meeting, were cancelled in fourth quarter 2008. That amount represented, on average, 7 percent of each organization’s scheduled meeting activity for the year. Since then, many high-profile cancellations have made the news, from Primerica’s 55,000-person biennial conference in Atlanta and Wells Fargo’s employee appreciation event in Las Vegas to the 160 meetings and events cancelled by AIG earlier this year. Respondents said they expected reductions in bookings, travel, meeting, budgets, staffing and attendance to continue until the economy rebounds.

At the same time, those surveyed felt face-to-face meetings are the most effective way to build relationships and trust, engender a sense of community, conduct highly interactive programs, engage participants at an emotional level and demonstrate new products that require physical use. Going forward, meeting professionals see the need to:
1. prepare return on investment reports before a meeting is booked, using data such as past performance
2. attendee satisfaction, adherence to budget
3. the planner’s ability to negotiate “extras” like free transportation and complimentary meals.

FutureWatch found that nearly 75 percent of organizations currently conduct some form of in-house meetings evaluation, although primarily it’s for attendee satisfaction, along with revenue and adherence to budget. Also, to create a successful business case for meetings, planners will need to include business impact and return on investment information, as well.

In terms of meeting trends, both suppliers and planners felt that it was a buyer’s market, and 10 percent expect to see more environmentally friendly meetings. But despite 61 percent of respondents saying that corporate social responsibility is important to their organizations, most felt that those CSR initiatives would be delayed until the economy improves.

American planners said the top six influences on their meetings this year are:
1. the demand for more remote/virtual meetings
2. lower budgets
3. fewer face-to-face meetings
4. more green meetings
5. less frills (open bars, gifts, formal dinners and spousal entertainment, etc.)
6. more in-house/drive meetings.

Across the board, 25 percent of meeting and event planners said that the reduction in the number of available flights would reshape how they would plan and conduct meetings. Airlift was the No. 2 factor influencing destination selection in 2009, behind overall cost (26 percent). Other top factors influencing destination selection included:
1. travel costs (16 percent)
2. location relative to meeting purpose (11 percent)
3. ease of access/travel (11 percent)
4. proximity to members/attendees (7 percent).

The top two factors influencing hotel and venue selection in 2009 were reported to be overall cost (31 percent for hotel selection and 40 percent for venue selection) and customer service (14 and 11 percent, respectively). Other top factors influencing hotel selection included location relative to meeting purpose, willingness to negotiate, incentives/concessions, room rates, quality/condition of hotel, meeting space requirements and value. Other factors influencing venue selection included quality/condition of venue, location relative to meeting purpose, meeting space requirements, flexible/dedicated staff and value.

Source: By Kristi Casey Sanders 

The Economy & Travel

During this year's Techno Tourism Conference, Assistant Deputy Commissioner for Tourism, Kevin Langston commented that, "Twice as many travelers say they’re financially worse off than a year ago. 31% believe they’ll be worse off a year from now, versus 15% in Q1 2008. And 63% believe [the] US economy will worsen in 2009 – just 17% expect it to improve. [Travelers interviewed said] Causes [for this] consumer uncertainty – jobs, investments, vacation time…."

Mr. Langston when on to say, "[This] creates uncertainty for our industry – soft demand, weak revenue, dramatically different booking curves, tightened budgets – [which can] lead to missed opportunities."

[However] "people are still traveling – 56% say the number of leisure trips they will take this year will either not change or increase. And 64% say the duration of their leisure trips will either stay the same or increase They’re just being much more careful with their money and their time…."

"How do we as the tourism industry address these factors? We have to show customers the value of getting away, AND - show them value in our offered getaways!"

Good advice as we begin to enter into the early travel season. If you have ideas or promotions or need assistance in getting the word, let us know. We're talking about the Columbus experience and the added value of the destination.

*stats provided by Henry Harteveldt at Forrester Research 

What's all this talk about the "New Media"

Face Book, My Space, Twitter, You Tube, blogging... what the heck is all this techno-speak about? The most important thing to think about is that it's the new frontier of marketing your product and services. How you do it can be another matter all together. Southeastern Tourism Society recently conducted a webinar (another new tool in our instant gratification society) that talked about how to use social media to your advantage.

The Columbus Convention & Visitors Bureau will roll out its own social media systems to get ahead of other CVBs and destinations. The goal is to have it completed and active by late Spring. So if someone writes on your wall or pokes you, it might be a new customer doing what folks do when from their Blackberry or iPhone or desktop when they're trying to find good rates or tickets or other incentives.

People

What my years of business experience have taught me is that the key to competitiveness is innovation, and the key to innovation is people. Taking care of people, therefore, is an essential way of taking care of business.

Source Randall Tobias, Chairman of Eli Lilly excerpt from Employee Recruitment & Retention

Great managers remove obstacles

Managing is the art of getting things done through and with people in formally organized groups. It is the art of creating an environment in which people can perform as individuals and yet cooperate towards the attainment of groups goals. It is the art of removing blocks to such performance

Source: Harold Koonts The Motivational Manager

Ft. Benning Works with Columbus Hotels

It came to my attention a few weeks back that talk on the street was that Ft. Benning was not willing to work with area hotels. I know, it's hard to even get your head around that kind of talk. The story was that soldiers writing home to families about their progress in basic training and inviting them to the upcoming graduation included in their letters that they should only book thru "on line booking companies." Again, hard to believe. So I did some research, made some phone calls and learned that this is anything but true. Matter of fact, a sample letter I was given a copy of actually say the opposite and encourage the use of Columbus hotels and list the CVB as an alternative source for information for hotels and booking rooms. And I was assured that if it was learned that there was anything but a "cooperative spirit and support" for Columbus, that that action or attitude would not be tolerated; that it was not good for the Installation or Columbus.

Good news in a sluggish economy. If you are in the hotel business, you're encouraged to bolster your relationship with Ft. Benning. BRAC is delivering over 20,000 people by September 2011 and those folks will need a temporary place to stay when they go through their own Columbus site visit and eventual relocation. And new jobs will mean new suppliers and vendors to Ft. Benning, also needing a good place to overnight.

Benning is a good partner. And our success is their success.

Leisure Travel Expected to Remain Steady

FAMILIES across the country are trying to find a way to swing a summer vacation in difficult times. It's a challenge, but with a little creativity and compromise, many are finding ways to make it happen. Among the tactics that can help: avoid the crowds and be prepared to bargain. Consider shorter trips and the great outdoors. Off-the-beaten path locations can cost far less and look at off-peak times. National parks and recreation areas can be bargain destinations, and with the global recession weakening foreign tourism, they are expected to be less crowded this year.

GAS PRICES EXPECTED TO STAY LOW FOR SUMMER. Gasoline prices are expected to be relatively low this summer, so motorists might want to take to the road despite the dismal economy if the federal government projection holds. The Energy Information Administration said regular-grade gasoline is expected to average $2.23 a gallon during the April-through-September driving season, although it will likely fluctuate and could jump to more than $2.30 a gallon during the peak driving period in late summer. But that's a bargain compared with last summer, when gasoline cost an average of $3.81 a gallon.

WELCOME to the great American road trip, 2009. From the Grand Canyon to Orlando to the Wisconsin Dells, concession and hotel operators are gearing up for a large influx of roadsters. Millions of Americans are planning to hit the highways this year as long-range drives come back into vogue. It's a resurgence fed by cheaper gas, childhood memories and a general reluctance o splurge by people who are fearful for their jobs, travel analysts said. Others are fed up with air travel, preferring the grind of the road to delays and fees. "In times like these-and we've seen this before-people tend to go back to things like national parks and heritage vacations to spend quality family time," said Bruce Bossman, director of reservations and sales for the Grand Canyon Railway, a tourist attractions that runs near the canyon's southern rim.

LEISURE TRAVEL INTENTIONS UP SLIGHTLY. According to the February Travel Horizons survey, the U.S. Traveler Sentiment Index rose to 90.2 in February 2009 from 78.2 in October 2008 due to an increase in the perceived "affordability of travel." The Index is a derivative of six separate statistical measures that have been tracked since March 2007, at which time the Index was pegged at 100. The spike in the perceived affordability of travel appears to be a direct result of many travel suppliers' recent efforts to stimulate short-term demand through the aggressive promotion of discounted fares and rates. Promotional pricing and related incentives are now offered by suppliers representing practically every segment of the travel industry from airlines to cruise lines, hotel companies, attractions and rental car companies, some of which are featuring rates and fares that are up to 50 percent off the prices being quoted just six months ago.

"We are very encouraged that more people are signaling a willingness to travel for leisure purposes," said Peter C. Yesawich, chairman of Ypartnership. "This is the first increase we have observed in the Index since January 2008, which indicates that the discounts travel providers and destinations are offering are working to attract more travelers, even in this down economy. As it turns out, this is actually a terrific time to travel because some of these great deals are sure to disappear once the industry begins to recover."

Source: Southeastern Tourism Society

Expectation

You're not expected to be perfect. You're just expected to reach a little further for some brand new stretch goals.

Source: Martha Finney, leadership consultant