Monday 30 April 2012

No more business cards?

When is the last time you USED a business card? Today I needed to call a new client and what did I do? Did I dig past the Snickers bars, McChicken sauce packets, stamps and ratchet sockets (don't ask) in  Truck Norris' center console to find the business card she gave me on our first meeting?

Nope, I immediately turned to my iphone yellow pages app. Google is usually my starting point, so I can get to the website or email address but this time I needed to call her like an adult.After I call someone the first time, I always save the contact info in my contacts but for an initial call - google it is. (*Side note - why are phone books still printed?*)

Am I alone in this? Do you keep a rolodex (or whatever card filing system you use) handy? Do you always turn to a business card first?

Do you have a system you utilize after networking events to capture business card info? I do. Ha! After the previous paragraphs you expected me to say no, didn't you? I actually have a really good system (spreadsheet) where I enter names, contact info, industry and relevant keywords so they are searchable when I need them down the road.

Alas, when I am driving (ahem...when I am not near my laptop) I still need to access this information sometimes. The Dropbox app on my iphone works great,but takes far more steps than google does.

What are your thoughts - do you really USE a business card or do you just politely collect them and then carelessly toss them into your own vehicle console or briefcase amidst candy, receipts and travel-sized deodorant?


Thursday 1 March 2012

Learn to brand your business, then communicate your value!

Your brand is not your logo.
It’s what people say about you or your company when you leave the room.

Learn to differentiate yourself, stand out, and see your business as others see it. Your company has a voice, a personality and an attitude (well, mine does anyway…) so learn to find it, develop it and embrace it. Then? Communicate it!

At my branding and communications workshop March 20th (9:30 am - 12:30)at the Red Deer Public Library,
we will determine your target audience, the value you offer them and how to best portray that to get the results you need. We will throw in some internal communications tools, media relations, business writing and even some social media strategy to ensure your new business has a full toolbox to take back to the office after this half day workshop.

All this for only $55! 
Register here!

Wednesday 15 February 2012

Alberta businesses: Help us help others

Hey Alberta businesses: Do you know a worthy non-profit who needs help spreading their message?

We want to help!

We are teaming up with the Phoenix Design Group to offer a dynamic website and all content development  and photography at no cost to a non-profit organization in need.

Web design:   Phoenix Design Group www.phoenixdesigngroup.ca
Web strategy, site map and content: southpaw communications (website well, here...)
Photography:  Deanna Hall Photography http://www.deannahallphotography.com/

(Huge thanks to the participating partners!)

But how will we decide who we build the site for?
That’s where you come in. We are inviting Alberta businesses to nominate an Alberta non-profit that either a) currently has a website that desperately needs an overhaul or b) has no site at all and needs one.

Once all nominations are in by February 29, 2012, we will get together ensure they all meet the criteria and then draw the winner on March 1, 2012.

Of course, there are some limitations and some fine print.
-      The nominee must be Albertan, serving Alberta (or larger audience)
-      They must own their own domain and have full access to hosting info (we can help set it up if they have no current website)
-      The layout and design of the site will be at our discretion, in tandem with the needs and wants of   the winner
-      The winner must be compliant and provide all information for content and direction in a timely manner
-      This is for an informational site only (no e-commerce, CMS etc.)

How do you nominate an organization?
-          Email us:
o   Who the organization is
o   Their mandate, audience, services they provide
o   Their current online presence (website or not – please include web address if they currently have one)
o   Why you believe they deserve to win the website
o   Contact information for the organization

Email: getleft@southpawcommunications.ca

Cheers!

Tuesday 7 February 2012

Grow your successful business! But first, get a grown-up email address...

Isellstuff@gmail.com

wecanhelp@xplornet.com

mybusiness@hotmail.com

Looks like your dad's email address right? So it should not be what you use to represent your business.  Regardless of whether you have (or need) a website - you can still get a professional email address! I had my @southpawcommunications.ca email address in action months before I had my actual site functional.

Why? Because it makes you look like you have your shit together. A gmail or hotmail account seems kinda shady, no? Seems like it just might be a scam? Someone operating from their basement?

Even worse: hott_chick11@yahoo.com or awesomedude@hotmail.com

Well, even if you don't see it that way - the professional email address is still the way to go. Even if you do not have a website (chances are you need one anyway...) you can still register your domain (that's your www.yourbusinessname.com) and activate the email address associated with it. And it's affordable!

Companies like godaddy.com or any other website hosting company make this really easy to do. Don't wanna go at it alone? Let your resident web designer or 15 year old take care of it.  But, if I can do it, you can do it.  Trust me, it will vastly improve the image clients develop of you and your business.

Your brand is all about visibility and professionalism.  Do all you can to build it well.

Monday 9 January 2012

I cut this post in half - Writing for business

This post used to be twice as long. Why? Because I follow my own rules. Most documents, letters, brochures, emails, are far longer, more involved, more convoluted and more detailed than necessary. Just like that sentence.

But, seriously, when writing for an external audience you have to remember that's what they are - EXTERNAL! You cannot assume that because they work with you as clients or customers that they are privy to all of your internal vocabulary and slang.

As you write that communication piece that will be heading out of the office, remember that even though you think you have used plain language, most likely you have still used industry lingo, internal vocabulary and terms - even if they seem plain and simple to you. Get someone external to edit it - a professional editor or someone in the 'general' public who knows nothing about the subject matter. I often ask my fiance (a millwright) to review my client communications pieces. If he has to ask what a term means - the piece isn't simple enough for external people.

Now that you have eliminated all of the technical, specific and internal language - make it shorter. Chances are, when you eliminated an industry-specific word, you substituted an explanatory sentence, rather than another single word. Go back and edit now to make it clear and concise.  Take out useless words like very, frankly, actually, honestly, truthfully, really, quite, so, very, somewhat, seems, utterly, practically, basically, and rather.

Also watch your phrases. There is no need to say 'end result' when results only happen at the end. There is also no need to say 'added bonus' because that is what bonus means.

Becoming a savvy, powerful writer will not happen overnight, but if you edit carefully, ask for help and write actively, not passively - your readers will thank you.