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Small Business

Things I Learned Today Because of Social Media

by admin on March 24, 2010

It has been a great day.  I’ve read and learned many things.  I sold a couple of insurance policies.  I renewed a policy.  I made connections with a couple of my networking partners (phone connections–conversations!!! Yes, they are still important.)  Sitting in my office and laughing at an old picture posted on Facebook by one of my friends, I really appreciated more than ever the power of social networking. 

One of the applications I use, however, TweetDeck is almost too much for me.  I get Tweet updates on everyone I am following.  I also get updates on LinkedIn profile changes, connections, etc. etc.  This can really be too much for one person to handle.  So, I do not utilize TweetDeck as much as I used to.  Here’s a few things I learned today because of Social Networking:

  • Gary Smith and Trinity Signs “just took over signwork for the John Bowles Company! We are currently working several projects at once.”
  • Harold Smith of Cornerstone Mortgage just got a bit of advice from one of his clients:  “If you can’t explain it simply, you don’t understand it well enough.” (Einstein) – via my smart client
  • Since noon today, about 50 of my connections on LinkedIn have made a new connection and expanded their (and my) network.
  • “My Customers don’t give a damn about me”.  from @JohnnyBTruant 
  • I now know some of the things I should have in my emergency supply kit (water, essential medicines, can opener, radio, etc.)
  • Honolulu has the second highest housing rents (I’m not completely sure what that means.)
  • Host Families are needed for Russian Oprhans in Dallas

Many of these things are trivial.  But, much more trivial things are not included in this post.  I actually viewed a lot of relevant content and links to social media, insurance, small business advice, etc., too.  The content I consumed today was great.  The trivial as well as the information significant to my business.

The reason I enjoy social media so much is because I can turn it off and on whenever I want to, but it is still running around the clock and waiting for me when I return.  This is the same reason that your customers and potential customers enjoy social media.  They want to be able to turn to the information when they need it . . . when it is convenient for them.  If you own a business, you want to be there when people decide to return.  That is the significance of social media.  Being there when people return. 

collinharbour.com


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Being at the Right Place at the Right Time

by admin on February 23, 2010

I know people who always seem to have good things happen to them.  They always seem to be in the right place at the right time.  I was watching an old re-run of Seinfeld last night and saw a perfect example of this (watch the first minute and a half for the illustration and the whole thing if you just want a great laugh):

Kramer was in the right place at the right time.  Part of this was due to to his inquisitive personality.  Part of it was just plain luck.  Either way, he got a “job” out of being in the right place at the right time.  It changed his life.  Of course, he lost the job due to his inability to perform, but that’s a different story.

I tossed and turned last night thinking of this from a social networking standpoint.  I have spent countless hours over the last few weeks in social networking.  I find online social networks absolutely fascinating.  I have registered with several networks.  I have set up my own community on Ning.  I have submitted articles at Biznik.  Social Media Networks are great!  I have learned more and connectected with people to whom I would not have otherwise connected. 

The same principal that applied in the clip of Kramer above also applies to Social Networking.  Social Networks allow a person or business to connect with others in their industry and to their customers by providing online platforms or “networks”.  However, If a person or company only registers in social networks and does not participate, potential golden opportunities could be missed.

For instance:  If I am involved in social networking through a site like Twitter, many people will follow me and I will follow them.  When I tweet something, they may or may not read it.  But what if . . . the one thing that I tweeted that day was of interest to someone and they clicked on the link and visited my website?  What if  . . .  that person found the information helpful and filled out a form for me to contact them and I got some business out of social networking?  But not only registering in social networks, but participating in them, too.  Or, being in the right place at the right time.  What if 10 people did the same thing?  All it took was a few clicks of the buttons, and a little effort to be in the right place at the right time, and opportunity was created!

Let me give you another example.  I am big fan of Biznik.  It is another social networking site that allows users to connect with others as well as publish articles.  I have found several articles applicable and helpful (For instance, how do you think I figured out how to add the “Contact Me” tab to my blog?).  I comment on articles regularly and have noticed that traffic to my blog has picked up based on the comments I am making to others.  My participation, or being in the right place at the right time, is driving traffice to my website.

Join The Conversation Now

I would like to encourage you to join one social network that you have been thinking of joining.  I can provide you with a list if you fill out the contact me form.  Spend a couple of hours each day for one week on the network you join and connect with others by inviting them to join you or by commenting on their articles (Keep the negative comments to yourself).  See what kind of connections you can make and how they can make a meaningful impact on you and your business.  Make an effort to be in the right place at the right time and see if you can create a new opportunity for yourself this week.

Collin W. Harbour

collinharbour.com

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The Goblins Took Your Hair

February 14, 2010

After years of pondering, I know where my hair went. This morning as we were getting ready for church, my daughter asked me, “Collin (yes, she calls me by my first name), who took your hair?” After a few seconds of deliberation, I decided it was best to just level with her so I told her that God took it. Who can argue with that, right? Apparently, she did not like the answer, but she offered an alternative. “Collin, I think the goblins took it one day when you were walking in the woods.”

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We Are At War Here – Small Business Differentiators

February 9, 2010

My business Partner (father in law) and I were in a meeting today with a marketing representative from one of the great companies we represent (Sidebar: I am a partner in Property and Casualty Insurance Agency in Dallas, TX). We were discussing the speed with which data transfers and how quickly we need to respond to requests from prospective customers for insurance. I could spend a lot of time (but I won’t) discussing how competitive our industry is, but I don’t know that I could convince you that it is any more competitive than your industry. Anyway, my partner made a comment to the marketing representative. He said, . . . “On each deal, we’re at war”.

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