Expand Your Holiday Traditions

As the holidays approach each year, it is easy to become overwhelmed with the to-do list. From planning your feast, to buying gifts, decorating and running errands, we can sometimes forget there are folks out there for whom the holidays are just another day.

There are many organizations that collect gifts for children to brighten their holidays, and the response from donors is typically pretty good. No one wants to see a child have no gift at all for Christmas or Hanukkah. Unfortunately, there are adults out there who expect and often receive nothing to mark the holiday as special or to remind them that someone cares. In honor of this group, here are a few ideas you might consider adding to your holiday traditions:

• Donate small gift items to a senior center or program that coordinates in-home meal delivery for seniors. Things like socks, warm slippers, lotions or toiletries, lap blankets, scarves, or large print books or crossword puzzles.
• Check with your local homeless shelter to see what is on their needs list. They often need travel size toothpaste, disposable razors, tooth brushes, deodorant, new underwear and socks, or other personal care items.
• Plan a visit to a nursing home. There are many residents in long-term care facilities that don’t have family or other visitors. They would love a visit. If you are a Scouting leader, take your troop to sing carols and brighten many residents’ day.
• If you live near a Veterans Administration hospital, check with them to see if you can schedule a visit to a veteran who might be alone during the holidays. You can also ask about donating items like books, music, DVDs or personal care items.
• If you live near a military base, ask about inviting a solider or sailor to your home. Some of the facilities coordinate a program that matches single service members with local families willing to host them for a holiday meal. Don’t wait too late, though. In many cases, sign-up to host for Christmas dinner ends in early December.

There are many individuals in need out there, most of whom will not ever ask for help. If you are willing and able to meet the need, they will definitely appreciate your making their holiday a bit more special. If you have other ideas for giving, please let us know--we'd love to hear about them.

My sweet (diabetic) life...

November is American Diabetes Month. I’m not one to share my story, but felt it was time. I was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes right out of college. Early on I didn't deal with things very well, like learning to give myself a shot. It was a hard blow to learn I could never eat chocolate again (I’m a serious chocoholic) or have more than one drink (I was young!). So I ran away from taking care of myself and tried to live my life (with chocolate). I did the minimum to get by, or at least I thought I was getting by until I ended up in the ER when my blood sugar went so high I couldn’t hold down water. I was in the hospital for several days I don’t remember. That was a bit of a wake up call, but I’m stubborn and it took me a little longer to really get serious in dealing with my diabetes.

Luckily there have been many advances in how they treat diabetes, like the fact that you can eat chocolate as long as you compensate for it!! I have gotten better at my management of diabetes and I live a very full life and find there isn’t much I cannot do! A few things that have really helped my management are getting the insulin pump (now I have a cool version without all the tubes), eating healthier, and exercising. I won’t say I’m always good every single day, that is a standard that is really hard for me to meet, but I find these small things really make a big difference.

I look for alternatives to having a lot of carbs in my meals and have a wonderful, healthy recipe for smashed cauliflower to share. To me it is like having a big heaping of mashed potatoes without the guilt and carbs!

Boil water, place 1 head of cauliflower florets in water and cook until a fork goes in easily. Meanwhile, add 1 little container of plain Greek yogurt into a mixing bowl, along with a 1/4c blue cheese crumbles (spurge for the good stuff, it has more flavor). Then add the cauliflower and smash/mix away. I use a hand held blender mixer, but a regular mixer works. I don’t mind if there are chunks, but mix to the consistency you like and salt and pepper to taste. Enjoy and don’t feel guilty about seconds!!

If you’ve been living with diabetes, please send me your thoughts or things that work for you!

Evolved Brand Management on Law Talk Radio

Our own Jeanne Frazer was featured last night in a one-hour episode on Law Talk Radio. The session was titled Evolved Law Firm Brand Management, but has tips and ideas on branding for all businesses. The session was recorded and is available on demand. Listen to Jeanne's tips on Evolved Brand Management. If you have feedback or questions, please let us know and we'll do our best to answer them!

The Importance of Value

I was talking with a VP from a small financial company yesterday. She mentioned that she had considered attending a three-day industry conference in July but had decided against doing so, even though she felt that she should attend for the networking opportunities. When I asked why she had decided not to go, she said that the session descriptions were not very detailed and she simply couldn’t justify time away from her busy job without proof of the value of the event.

The reality is that most business people are extremely busy and must prioritize – this still applies for even short networking/business events. Personal development and training opportunities tend to be pushed down the priority list to begin with. Add on top of that an event where value has not be communicated, and it is tough to justify a decision to attend the event and pay not only the registration fee but the travel expenses. And when you consider getting three days behind and having to play catch-up when you get back to the office, the conference suddenly seems less appealing.

The lesson learned here for anyone planning an event is that communicating value can be the most important thing you do. While many companies have cut budgets for events and travel, most are willing to pay IF the employee is able to justify the expense in terms of benefit to the company. And if you are looking at attending an event, I recommend before you even ask about going that you outline the benefits that you (and the company) will receive if you are allowed to attend the event.

Do you have a good event story to tell? We’d love to hear about your conference and event experiences!

Spreading the Word

Do you have an upcoming event or seminar planned and you need to get the word out? It can be a challenge to get the news of your event in front of folks who might be interested in attending. This is especially true if your budget is limited! So, what are some options for garnering attention?

1.      Good old-fashioned press releases can still be very effective – if the media happens to pick yours up. Some newspapers do have event calendars and will include your event there. Note that some papers will only publish free events at no charge; expect to pay if you want your fee-based event included.

2.      Online PRs geared toward SEO are also an option—though these generally have a price attached to them based on the topic and distribution.

3.      Add the seminar to your Events page on Facebook and post about it (free). Ask fans to tell their friends. If you have the budget, run ads in Facebook targeted at the demographic you are trying to reach.

4.      Include your event on your website with the appropriate keywords and make it easy to register. Then include a link to the page in your e-newsletter in a short article with details about the session.

5.      Find a group whose members would have interest in the topic and ask them to promote it to their members. (LinkedIn is a good place to search for groups.) Optionally, partner with someone else whose interests are similar.

6.       Add the event to meetup.com.

We know how hard it can be to get news of your event in front of the right people, but keep trying! You may have to test several channels to find what works best for you. If you have found a great solution, we'd love to hear from you. Good luck!

Dealing With Feedback

When our speakers address an audience, we always ask for feedback. That doesn’t mean we always get it, but when audience members do take time to respond, we use that feedback to try and improve. Unfortunately, it’s a fact of life that people who respond to surveys or fill out responses frequently either love you or hate you. Those who don’t feel strongly either way sometimes think their responses won’t matter or simply don’t want to bother.

It is important when you do receive feedback that you visibly act upon it. Even if someone is unhappy, if they see you working to fix the complaint they reported, they are much more likely to give you a second chance. More importantly, they are less likely to speak negatively of their experience to friends. It is critical, however, that you do not brush off criticism as if it doesn’t matter.

Negative feedback can be very difficult to hear. Most people have a tendency to take such comments personally and lash out. If the responder provided a name, or if you can tell by the comments alone who the person is, you should never approach them in a confrontational manner. If they did provide their name and you do want to speak with them further, think ahead about how you might approach them. Always begin the discussion with, “I really appreciate your feedback and am working to improve…”

One of my favorite stories to tell goes back to when I first started speaking. I presented at a session beginning at 9 a.m. and collected feedback forms at the end of the session. Everything was positive except for several comments about not providing breakfast. The solution: donuts and juice every time! If you have received feedback that was memorable or was especially funny, we’d love to hear about it. Send us your story at info@theexpertspeakers.com.

Coats + Blankets 2011

As a small business owner, I have learned over the years how important it is to occasionally step away from my own concerns and remember that there are millions in need in the U.S. and across the world. As part of the vitalink® 15-year anniversary, we committed to doing 15 “points of service” – pro bono and volunteer activities – throughout the year.

One of these activities is the second annual vitalink coats + blankets drive! Last year, with seven of our business partners, we collected hundreds of coats and cold weather items and quite a bit of cash to benefit the Raleigh Rescue Mission (www.raleighrescue.org). The economy is still struggling and there are many individuals and families here in Raleigh (as elsewhere) that are homeless or very close to losing their homes. Many are unable to afford to heat their houses or apartments and cannot buy warm coats for their children. Every time I think about my problems, I recognize how lucky I truly am compared to some others who struggle every day with the basics.

I encourage you to find a charity or a cause and donate your money, your time, or both. It can put things in perspective and you’ll feel better about yourself. If you are in the Raleigh area and would like to give to the vitalink coats + blankets drive, send us an e-mail or give us a call at 919.850.0605. If you’re not in the area, search locally for a shelter or other good cause and give them a call. You’ll be glad you did.

Lessons from Tebow

I know not all of you are football fans, but we can all learn lessons everywhere when we look for them. I am a fan of Tim Tebow, the rookie quarterback for the Denver Broncos and Florida Gator (like me). Tebow was a two-time college championship winner and was awarded the prestigious Heisman Trophy in only his sophomore year. In Gainesville and the greater “Gator Nation,” folks thought of him as a kind of football super hero. Great intensity, leadership, and a warrior on the field. He’s also a down to earth person who loves God and his family.


While he has amassed great accolades and went in the first round of the draft, Tebow is far from perfect. Many thought he would go in a much lower round of the draft due to his throwing style. Many questioned if he could play in the NFL at all as a quarterback. Hmmm, I seem to remember some of the same nay-sayers with former Gator and Dallas Cowboy Emmitt Smith (the NFL’s all time leading rusher). They thought he was too small, too slow. He was just determined and set records that still stand today.

Bottom line, Tim Tebow inspires me to accomplish things. One of his high profile team mates commented that his style and delivery may not be pretty, this guy is “magical.” I agree. He inspires his team mates. He inspires followers. The game this past weekend was in Miami and the Dolphins fans were cheering for Tebow (the other team)! His jersey, #15, is the #1 selling jersey in the NFL.

Here are a couple of lessons I’ve learned from Tebow:

1. You don’t have to fit the mold or have the best “mechanics;” be passionate and work hard— don’t let anyone say you can’t do something. You might just succeed and inspire others along the way.

2. In a “bad boy” athlete era, Tim Tebow is respectful talking with the media, respectful of opportunities and of his team. Kudos. Be respectful and you’ll get that back a hundred fold.

3. Being the best (as defined by others) or having the best grades doesn’t mean you’ll be the best leader. It also doesn’t make you the best producer. So what if you are a little different. Play your game. Work at it and play hard and with heart.

4. This guy would literally pick the team up on his back if he could. His most memorable speech came after a loss at Florida when he said he’d let the team down, but nobody would ever work harder than him. He took responsibility and then worked his butt off.

5. Don’t be afraid to be yourself. Share your passion and you will find like minded people and earn respect. Tebow went on mission trips as a youth and still thanks God. Like it or not, you gotta respect him.

6. He is passionate about this game. Find something you love and commit to being your best. It won’t always be easy and you won’t always win, but there is joy in it.

Football fanatic (like me) or someone who doesn’t know what pigskin is, these are some great lessons. What have you learned from someone that you didn’t expect to learn from? I’d love to hear some other words of wisdom from unexpected sources!

Post Seminar Engagement

We’ve all been there. You attend a great session with a great speaker and walk away feeling like you’ve been empowered—eager to get back to the office and put your newfound learning to work. Then reality crashes in and when you get back to thinking about the seminar it’s three weeks later and you’ve forgotten much of what you learned.

As a speaker, there are some things you can do to help your audience avoid that post-seminar letdown and remember you favorably. Consider the following:

Buzzworthy Lawyers

Buzzwords become buzzwords because they strike a cord. While they’re hot, phrases like “win-win,” “think outside the box,” “convenient location,” “free consultation,” all make the advertiser appear to be on the “cutting edge.” But what happens when you are using a buzzword past the expiration date?

You lose clout and become part of the incessant background noise and not the hype buzz you’d wanted. Attorneys, for example, are egregious over users of the phrase “free consultation.” It is hard to think about other ways to impart this benefit—especially if you are using pay-per-click or other advertising with limited space, but when you do find other ways to invite people “to learn more about their rights for free” results will increase.

Your advertising is supposed to make you stand apart and tell the story of why you are different. It should not make you blend into the crowd because you are mimicking other competitors. Attorneys are very good at looking within their own industry and following the lead of the big dogs-the problem is it creates an environment of sameness, almost inbred advertising.

If you are going to use a buzzworthy term, be the first to do it so you set the standard. Look to other industries for a fresh approach. Better yet, stop writing “ad copy.” Really analyze who you are and what you do best. Make sure it matches the reality of what your clients like about you, then find a way to include words that your clients use and understand. And make sure you monitor your ads to avoid “ad fatigue”—change them based on what you learn works best through your testing. Online ads need more updates, but television ads can and should run for a longer time frame.

We all want to be different, but actually having the guts to do it is another thing. Are you up for being truly buzzworthy by creating your own path?

Perception vs. Reality

Do your clients see your business the same way you do? In many cases, we proceed under the assumption that our perceptions of ourselves and our firms or businesses match those of our clients and prospects. But that is not always the case.

What happens when there is a “disconnect” between our perceptions and those of the client/prospect? From a business perspective, the client/prospect view of our company IS “reality”. When business drops off, there is a shift in client demographics, or marketing/advertising efforts no longer work, it may be time to see if there is a gap between who we perceive ourselves to be and “reality”.

Identifying gaps begins with research. Here are just a few of the things you can review to see if there might be an issue:

• Ask. It sounds simple, but it is not always easy to do this. Many people are reluctant to ask others for what may be an uncomfortable truth. And the clients or former clients may not want to be honest for fear of hurting feelings or burning bridges. A third party source doing the asking helps.
• Get input from your employees – including lower level folks. This must be done by a third-party to ensure confidentiality and promote honest answers. You might also ask your vendors what they hear from others about your firm.
• Analyze. Pull out all the statistical information you have on your business over the past two to five years and look at what the data is telling you. Make sure you factor in trends and external changes.
• Look at your primary competition. Note that this may not be the same group of businesses who were your competitors two years ago.

We can help you find out where you have gaps between your customer’s experience and what you believe you are delivering. vitalink offers competitive and market research, conducts confidential surveys, analyzes your current business focus and presents a strategic marketing plan to move your business forward – making sure that you are on-target and your message is on-point. Contact us to learn more.

The Expert Speakers has added this topic to the roster as well. Perception vs. Reality: Close the Gaps to do More Business addresses the challenges businesses have when their own perceptions do not match those of the client or prospect.

Google Tips #2: Alerts

Among the tools that Google offers its users are Google Alerts. The Alerts feature allows you to set up one or more automated content "searches" for specific words or phrases. You choose the frequency (as it happens, daily or weekly) and emails will be generated when your alert is triggered. You can set up the search to just cover one type of update or all updates.

Why use Google Alerts? You can use it to monitor a specific news story or topic, your company or even yourself! The tool is designed to pick up changes/additions to website content, blogs, news stories, etc. Do note that this feature is still in beta at this time, so it's possible you'll see some unexpected results.

To set up an alert:

• Go to http://www.google.com/alerts.
• Enter the search terms following these rules:
  a. Use quotes for a specific phrase, for example, “jeanne frazer”
  b. Separate words or phrases with spaces
  c. Use plus and minus signs to include or exclude words, +vitalink –cable
• Choose the alert type and frequency
• Enter email address to receive the email. NOTE: the user does NOT need to have a Google account to create alerts. You DO have to have an account if you want to manage your alerts OR if you don’t want to have to verify each alert via email. If you DO have an account, you can set the alert up to go into an RSS feed instead of email.

It's that easy! Do note that if the keywords used are common, you may need to edit the alert and add more keywords (or negative keywords) later. As an example, I have several alerts and had to edit my vitalink alert a number of times when I found several other companies and products using this name.