When you meet a new business prospect or a potential client who shows interest in your business/services, how do you react? Are you able to effectively give that prospect more information without overwhelming him/her with a sales-y lecture? After giving your simple elevator speech, let your website do the talking.
“Make sure your website is attention-getting, informational, and in line with your brand standards,” said Chelsea Janke, Social Media Administrator. “You shouldn’t have to click more than three times from your homepage to find desired information. Use your website as a snapshot or representation of your business and what it has to offer, while making sure that it is also user-friendly for your clients and prospects.”
What’s your elevator speech? No, it’s not actually about elevators. What I’m asking is if you were to sum up what you do or what your business is all about in just one to two sentences (roughly the time you share with another person on an elevator), what is your key message? It might not be easy to summarize, but it’s great to be prepared for those short encounters with other people – who might be prospective clients.
Having trouble formulating your key-message speech? Here’s a tip: don’t try to include every single aspect of what makes your business great – that would be far too in-depth and excessive for an elevator speech. Instead, try to include two or three of your most important goals, maybe part of your mission statement, or just a couple of your strengths that make your business unique and successful. Whatever it is, keep it simple.
If you’re a business owner thinking that you know exactly what your key message is, can you say the same for every member of your team/company? Remember that every employee is a reflection of the company as a whole, and clients often formulate their opinions of a company based on one experience or interaction with an employee of that company. Make sure each member of your team correctly and effectively represents your business and its solidified message.
How far would you go to show your loyalty to your favorite brands? Many consumers will recommend brands to friends, wear clothing with obvious logos, or even put bumper stickers of logos on their cars. But is there any greater sign of brand loyalty than the willingness to have a logo permanently tattooed onto your skin? That’s commitment that speaks loudly for your company.
According to a Star Tribune article from last month titled “The new branding: company tattoos” by Kristin Tillotson, numerous staff members of Anytime Fitness have gotten the company’s purple logo of a running person tattooed on their skin. Not only is that strong brand loyalty, but it also shows the extreme devotion that Anytime Fitness employees have to their company.
So what do you think: Is there a brand logo that you would have tattooed on your skin? How about the company you work for? Or is this branding going too far?
To read the full Star Tribune article, click here.
It’s summer time once again, which means it’s time to enjoy the fresh air and sun. Looking for a great outdoor activity to experience with family and friends? Kari Logan, C.E.L.’s Media Specialist, has the perfect answer: Bring the garden to the table!
Entertain loved ones and enjoy summer by hosting a homegrown garden party. This past Saturday Kari was on the local NBC affiliate KARE 11 and featured items from the General Store of Minnetonka. The creative items included patio lights, decorative napkins, lighted tree branches, shatter proof wine glasses, a fire pot, ant salt and pepper shakers, and a shish kabob style “FireWire” for grillin. What about the non-breakable plates? Well, let’s just say that host Belinda Jensen was determined to make them live up to their name!
Kari also showed some tasty summer treats – including roasted vegetables and herbs and an organic chocolate cake – from the Country Cake Cupboard & Café located in Long Lake, MN. Other featured items included a cold veggie pizza from the deli at Fresh Season’s Market in Minnetonka and potted plants and herbs from Otten Brothers Nursery in Long Lake.
“It was a pleasure to introduce KARE 11 viewers to products from The General Store of Minnetonka, Otten Brothers Nursery, Country Cake Cupboard and Café and Fresh Seasons Market,” said Kari. “As the ‘entertaining maven’ on KARE 11 News Saturday, I connected the garden with the table to create a homegrown garden party. From plants to food to patio décor, the businesses I featured have it all and they dish it up with impeccable customer service. As a company passionately committed to the betterment of business, family and the community, it is rewarding to bring great people and products together to create entertaining ideas for families and friends.”
Now that you’ve heard from Kari, how can you bring your favorite recipes from the garden to the table in your backyard?
It’s been almost a week since I experienced one of my greatest achievements…setting a new personal record at the Minneapolis Half Marathon. With the support from friends, family, and the C.E.L. team, and the passion I have for running, I finished at a sub 8 pace…a pace of 7:56 minutes per mile to be exact. To describe the emotions and thoughts that went through my head for 1 hour and 43 minutes would be impossible to share. But the run that encompassed adrenaline, nervousness, excitement and determination to accomplish my goal was a challenge. And I was up for the challenge. If you would like to check out the results from my Half Marathon, click here. (link: http://www.mtecresults.com/runner/show?rid=7657&race=34)
I believe the moments in life that challenge us are the moments in life that define us. If you have a fun story of how you were challenged or reached (or exceeded!) your goal, please share!
I have noticed lately that successful businesses don’t do business with other companies simply because they are the cheapest option, or because they promise to be the fastest – the quality of the work and customer service are what count. I talked to Cindy Leines, Founder and Strategist at C.E.L., about what she has seen as an example of a successful small business that she chooses to work with for those very reasons. She gave me the example of one company’s secret that begins with its founder, Joseph Reilly. Joseph “Joe” Reilly is the President of Payroll Control Systems and the TwinWest Chamber of Commerce 2010 “Entrepreneur of the Year.” So I had to ask, what do Joe and his team have that gives the company success?
Cindy was very confident in the fact that selflessness and generosity are two of Joe’s characteristics that have led to success for Payroll Control Systems, which is a leading provider of payroll, payroll tax, time & labor, and human resources solutions in the Upper Midwest. A business owner herself, Cindy is aware of the challenges that a down economy can bring. But even in hard times, Joe has never made an excuse, nor has he compromised quality of work or customer service.
“Joe is resourceful, and he’s a giver,” Cindy said. “He is always willing to go above and beyond for others, and I will continue to do business with them because of their honesty and their quality of work.”
Joe’s recent award for “Entrepreneur of the Year” proves that there is more than just a handful of people who, along with Cindy, will vouch for Joe’s character and his business. It also proves that selflessness and generosity are two things that no business owner should be without.
So what do you think leads to success for small business?
I continue to hear news reports on Tiger Woods and his attempt to rehabilitate himself from an alleged sexual addiction. The media claims his world is falling apart around him. My response to that is we all make choices and when we make bad ones, we may have to suffer some bad consequences. As my mother used to say, “You made your bed and now you have to lie in it.” However, today, I heard a news report on how Tigers actions and the subsequent fall out is impacting the PGA Tour and how they are looking at cutting their ticket price in half in order to draw a crowd.
This is a good lesson to businesses and organizations on putting all of the eggs of your brand in one basket. The PGA can’t change the fact that the best golfer draws the biggest crowd, but their marketing/pr strategy should be diverse and designed to promote all of their core competencies. The PGA was around long before Tiger Woods was born and love for the game runs rampant around the world! There’s a rich history and there is a bright future with up and coming golfers. Why do people buy tickets to the tour? The value of the experience goes beyond Tiger Woods, but have we been sold on that value or just on catching a glimpse of the Tiger whose wild side has caused him to mauled by the media?!
If you’re getting a lot of play with a celebrity spokesperson, newsworthy CEO or a hot attention-getting product, make sure you’re planning ahead in case one of those promotional tools fizzles out. Continue to sell the core of your business, your expertise, dedication, ethics, and your commitment to service.
I was reading my daily issue of Ragan’s PR Daily Dog this morning, it’s a daily newsletter of sorts for public relations professions. I try to keep up on what’s new in the industry, especially when it comes to attracting media attention towards my clients.
So, the next time you’re wondering if writing and distributing a good press release is worth the time and money, consider the new rules of engagement and potential return on investment!
This morning, the Today Show reported that it is so unusually cold in Miami
that Miami Zoo staff has given the orangutans hot chocolate and a warm
blanket!
Now, the visual of this in my head has made me giggle out loud several times
already today. Those adorable little faces on heads popping out from a cozy
blanket holding a mug of Swiss Miss brings a smile to my face. It also
brought a public relations thought to my head, as these things typically do.
What a great move for the Miami Zoo to release this information to the
press! It shows their commitment to caring for their animals and I guarantee
that Floridians will race to the zoo today to catch a live glimpse!
Sometimes the most instinctive and basic acts of care and kindness make the
best news coverage and the best public relations.
CEL’s PR Out Loud is about getting useful information out to the public about public relations, media relations, branding, graphic design and everything else that has to do with our industry. It is a go to spot for information, tips and links to helpful sites for all aspects of a small business.
We have multiple people blogging based on their specialities in the industry.
Cindy Leines
A forward thinker and creative leader with the ability to see the big picture and pull all the pieces together. Cindy has over 20 years in this industry and specializes in branding, strategic planning and running a business.
Kari Logan
With over 25 years working in television and securing print, broadcast and electronic media stories for local and national companies her background shows her specialty. She is a great writer, producer, media expert and creative guru.
Stacy Slygh
Over a decade of creative design and event work on a local and national level, and the ability to manage any project, is only the beginning of this fast interpreter’s strengths. She has a eye for design and a flair unlike any other.
Chelsea Janke
In addition to welcoming guests at the front desk and greeting callers on the phone, Chelsea keeps the C.E.L. office and staff organized while managing clients. Her computer proficiency is a great asset to the team and to clients and her ability to multi-task is exceptional! Chelsea is resourceful and has an innate problem solving ability, so she keeps daily operations and projects running smoothly. She provides graphic design support services under the guidance of colleague Stacy Slygh and manages the Social Media Incubator™.
Carol Scheer
Out of our satellite office in St. Louis, Carol has more than 20 years in the newsroom from copy writing to executive news producer in major markets across the country. Her innate ability to uncover and tell the whole story in a compelling fashion is her forte.
Cindy Leines
Kari Logan
Stacy Slygh
Chelsea Janke
Carol Scheer