Marketing for March

Are you in the middle of a marketing slump? Summer tends to be a slow time for marketing and public relations efforts. This is why I tell all my business owner friends to re-evaluate marketing strategies during the summer. It is a slow time and there is plenty of space to review, plan and strategize.
Facebook and social media marketing efforts during this time are easy to A/B split test. You can review what times of day and what types of posts actually work and don’t work. You can also see what posts work on certain social media mediums vs. what doesn’t work.

Reviewing customer research is important during this time, too. When you launch your company, reviewing and studying your customers seems to be pretty important. Once customers start to roll in, revisiting your customer demographic, their buying trends, etc. seems to fall by the wayside. Don’t let this happen!

If there are two things to take away this weekend, understanding your social media efforts and who your customers are is essential and should be the main thing to revisit when it comes to marketing.

Until tomorrow,

Twyla Garrett

Why You Shouldn't Send THAT Email....

In the security business we take failure seriously. Lives are at stake and sometimes emotions can get the best of us when beta-testing processes, etc. The key to a great working relationship, in any field of government, is to ensure that we practice candor and not let our emotions get the best of us. This said, I'm providing 3 tips to avoid breaking up a business relationship when things go wrong. You can use these tips in almost any situation so be sure to share them.

1. Write the email you want to send but leave the “to” section blank. After you write it, don’t edit it. Save it to drafts and revisit the issue after a three hour cooling offer period. You will be less emotional and more point orientated after three hours and then you can edit your email properly.

2. When you do go to edit the email, figure out a way to end it on a positive note. Offer some suggestions to correct the problem or talk about how you value the other person and want to address the issue but move forward as friends or professionals. Don’t be outright nasty with no room for positive resolution.

3. Get a second opinion before you hit send. Your head is in the game and directly related to the issue at hand. However, you can be sued if you are an employer and send the wrong type of an email. Plus, it is good to have someone from the outside read the email and give it a level-headed once over.

Finally, if you don’t receive a response within 24 hours of sending the email- call the person or invite him or her to talk it over while having coffee. You don’t want to look like a jerk- even if you are right- by sending an angry email with no opportunity for recovering or without extending the olive branch.

Until next time,

Twyla N. Garrett

Loretta Lynch.... The Bombshell!

On Friday, I posted a blog stating who I thought the President would pick for Attorney General. Three hours after my post the President announced his choice, which is Loretta Lynch. I, like many other experts, was completely off the mark with my prediction.

Here's why myself and other are concerned about Loretta Lynch. First, qualifications. From a Homeland Security perspective, Ms. Lynch has some nice wins under her belt. She has no partial ties to Obama or those who dislike his initiatives. She seems to be clean and less aloof then Eric Holder. But this doesn't mean anything. Her Harvard degree, while impressive to some, doesn't come with the endorsements that other candidates had from police unions and first responder organizations.

Am I disappointment? No. She has experience in prosecuting cyber crime and financial crime. She could look at the current IRS scandal with a fresh set of eyes. I do feel there were other and better qualified candidates that should have obtained the position, but this doesn't mean all hope is lost for the country. Lynch brings a different kind of leadership to the table and maybe this is exactly what we need when it comes to sustaining certain programs and prosecuting terrorists. I guess we will have to wait and see.... In the meantime, here is the official announcement and welcome Ms. Lynch!

Video of Lorretta Lynch.



Anyway, as we head into Tuesday, November 11th- note I will not be posting a blog as it is a Federal Holiday.

Twyla N. Garrett

Goodbye W. Africa... For Now

The headline out of Detroit today reads as follows; "Congresswoman Candice Miller: Temporarily suspend visas to west African countries impacted by Ebola." Is this move too little, too late? Should this order come from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS)? Well, yes on both!

I fudged the truth with Congresswoman Miller's statement. You see, she has formally noted a filing with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Secretary Jeh Johnson, and Secretary of State John Kerry to make a temporary suspension come to life. Right now, there are 13,500 visas out there from the three impacted countries plagued with Ebola right now. So, yes- with Ebola now in the USA- it is a little too late and the DHS should have jumped on this sooner rather than assuming we had everything under control.

Either way, do you know what the symptoms of Ebola are? I've listed them below. Keep coming back, however, as I cover this subject more on the day-to-day blog. I'm sure once Congresswoman Miller obtains the suspension, we will have a lot to discuss!

Nausea and vomiting.
Diarrhea (may be bloody)
Red eyes.
Raised rash.
Chest pain and cough.
Stomach pain.
Severe weight loss.
Bleeding, usually from the eyes, and bruising (people near death may bleed from other orifices, such as ears, nose and rectum)

Ebola is usually transmitted from animal meat to the host. From there, infected people typically don't become contagious until they develop symptoms. Family members are often infected as they care for sick relatives or prepare the dead for burial.

Until tomorrow,

Twyla N. Garrett

America’s PrepareAthon! Campaign

Tomorrow, 09/30/14, officially launches the start of FEMA's America’s PrepareAthon! Campaign!



The Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA) is encouraging individuals, families, workplaces, schools and organizations across the nation to take part in America’s PrepareAthon!, a national day of action that will take place tomorrow, September 30th. America’s PrepareAthon! is a community-based campaign to increase emergency preparedness and resilience through participation in hazard-specific drills, group discussions and exercises every fall and spring.

If you don't have an emergency management plan, you can create one at Ready.gov. As many of you already know, I have composed a book on the topic of Homeland Security called Homeland Security; A Comprehensive Guide for All. You can buy the eBook version of it my clicking here.

Before you buy the book, however, check out these three simple tips for creating an emergency management plan for your family;

1. Make sure you have one emergency kit for every member of your family. Each kit should include enough water for a week, nonperishable food for a week, $200 dollars in cash, a first aid, back up prescriptions, 2 medical masks, a knife, flashlight, a lighter, a set of battery powered walkie talkies, and a battery-powered radio on hand (with a set of extra batteries). Also, make sure the written down phone numbers of your relatives and neighbors is in the kit. Too often, we depend on our cell phones to keep our contacts. However, in the event that your phone is missing or not working, it is good to have these numbers on paper.

2. Set up multiple meeting spots. Your designated meeting spot may not be accessible, so it is important to have two alternative spots just in case.

3. Set up a Google Alert for your city PLUS the word "emergency." This is more preventative than anything else, but these daily alerts will keep you informed on issues and threats in the area so you can further adjust your lifestyle and educate yourself on pending issues.

Until next time,

Twyla N. Garrett

The 2014 WILDE Leadership and Service Awards Gala

I love to meet my fans! If you want to support a great group of women, please consider buying tickets to the following event. Oh, and I am the keynote speaker!

he WILDE Leadership and Service Awards Fundraising Gala is an annual event held in the city of Atlanta that seeks to highlight and recognize proven leaders in the community who have shown a commitment to improving individual and community standards. Honorees exude excellence and integrity in their area of expertise, and stand as role models in society.

The event is known to motivate, inspire, educate and entertain while building networks in two incorporated folds:

WILDE The Runway- A Charity Fashion Show: is an extraordinary platform for designers in the fashion industry to showcase their creativity and artistic skills while creating awareness of different cultures through the display of artwork and dynamic designs. It also serves as a platform for highly talented fashion designers seeking more visibility. We have added an interesting twist to the 2014 WILDE The Runway by bringing to you an exclusive kids fashion show. You do not want to miss!

Awards Gala: is an evening of cocktails, entertainment and fine dining during which honorees will be presented with the 2014 WILDE Leadership & Service Awards. Among other amazing activities, there will be an engaging panel discussion involving extraordinary speakers from all over the nation speaking on “Women Embracing Life and Leadership.”

BENEFICIARIES

The 2014 WILDE Leadership and Service Awards Fundraising Gala will benefit WILDE Charities and Beauty4Ashes Foundation.

When: October 11, 2014
( 7:00 pm to 11:00 pm)
Future Vision
1212 Fowler St. NW,
Atlanta, Georgia

Tickets start at $45. You can buy them here: http://wildeawardsgala.org/purchase-tickets/

Business TV Shows... What I Am Watching.

There seems to be limit on the amount of business related television shows out there. Sure, most of the business shows are staged, but you can still learn something from them. I decided to make a list of my favorite business TV shows. After all, even when I am relaxing- work and business are always on my mind.

Parks and Recreation. I love this show because it shows just how strange inner office relationships can get. It has business as the backdrop but really is funny.

Mad Men. Who doesn't love this show. If you haven't watched it yet- you're missing out. This show is all about workplace drama.

I am including The Office (both American and British versions) on my list. Sure, it isn't running any longer but reruns are available. There is one of everyone in every real office when watching the fictional version on TV.

I took a break tonight from our normal business conversations. Why? Well, in the next few weeks we will be diving into some pretty heavy business topics and I thought (especially for a Wednesday) that a TV break is well-deserved.

Twyla

Are You An Angry Business Owner?

Being a business owner or executive isn't easy. Sometimes we can crack under the pressure. So, how do I maintain my cool? Well, it takes a lot of patience and practice- but I do. I'm sharing my advice below. However, I would love to read your tips. Please share them with me here on on Twitter.

My key to remaining cool is to make yourself extra aware of the situation. It sounds simple, it's not. When you start to feel overwhelmed the best thing you can do is excuse yourself. Walk away from the situation. Look at your watch (or cell phone) and give yourself ten minutes to NOT think about the problem(s). Grab a coffee or a snack and just breath. After ten minutes, think about the situation. Ask yourself if it really is "the end of the world" or take an inventory of possible solutions and why they will or will not work. Whatever you do- don't take immediate action and don't react with hate or anger. You will make brash decisions and ruin your reputation.

You also want to tell yourself to "Calm down." You will need a reminder. It is ok to repeat the phrase to yourself until you can reasonably review the situation and consider the action you are going to have to take- if any at all. Sometimes I feel it is best to walk away from certain challenges. If someone is getting under your skin that day, shut your door. There doesn't always have to be a confrontation.

I hope this advice helps you. I know it has done wonders for me.

Until next time,
Twyla

How NOT To Network!

I get invited to several events. And, I attend as many as possible. On a recent trip, I was invited to a networking event. I went with a friend and acted as an observer only because the event was not related to my industry. I learned a lot at this event. Not so much about networking, but more on how people behave and how not to network. Let's start with working the room. Oh, I could see people running once they made eye contact with a shark. You know, a shark is the type of person who wants to ABC (always be closing) with you. You're either a shark's prospect or you're not important. This led me to think about sales pitches and most of us business owners (and everyday employees) have to sell something. Are we all sharks? No. But there difference is only in the approach and not the purpose.

"Remember six degrees of separation? With the introduction and widespread use of social media and other technologies, a study from 2012 shows that these days, it's more like four degrees. The more people you know--really know--the more likely you are to make that important connection you need to take your career, company, or venture to the next level," via Inc.com.

No matter what event you are attending, networking isn't about prospects and non-prospects. I learned this first-hand. You have to engage people. Introduce yourself and gracefully pitch what you have to offer. Not everything is a hard-sale or cold-call. You can stand out in someone's mind without being overly aggressive or making him or her feel as if they serve no purpose to you. The best way to network is to be honest and genuine. After all, you're not selling a produce or service, you're selling yourself. I have a five day rule with people I meet at networking events.

My 5 day rule is as follows. First, treat everyone you meet equally. You never know where or who is going to send a referral your way. Take everyone's card and be as honest as possible. Next, ask questions. Learn more about the person you are networking with. Let him or her do most of the talking. Last, promise to follow up. If you feel you have a strong lead, or potential business referral resource, tell that person you want to get together for coffee within the next week. Follow up, via email, the next day and invite him or her to meet for coffee within five days. If they don't respond, can't make it, or cancel- move on. People who are serious about growing their networking database will make the effort to take an hour out for coffee- especially since you're treating!

The worst thing you can do at a networking event is be a hard-seller. Don't lie, don't exaggerate your capabilities and don't be obnoxious. Be yourself, do your follow-up, and always thank people for their time.

Speaking of which........
Thank you for YOUR time,

Twyla Garrett, owner of IME.