If you look up any marketing or PR strategy, you will notice that visibility seems to be priority number one. Well, yes. Visuals do help any cause but content is always going to be king. With this said, what you say is important and it can harm you, your reputation, your company, or cause major turnover within your company!
So, what are the top 3 phrases you must stop using ASAP?
1. "I need you to be more like..." Wow, so much for treating people like individuals. People are not the same... not even twins. So, why are you expecting certain individuals to live up to the expectations of others? Don't drag other people into the conversation when you're having a one-on-one with anyone. Be specific and be direct.
2. "How do you think you're doing?" This is a set-up. The person on the other side of this question will become defensive and this will turn into a game that you don't want to play personally or professionally. Instead of asking someone how they think they are doing, tell them how they are doing at a job or as a client regardless if the news is good or bad.
3. "Hopefully, soon." This is not a commitment to anything and a waste of words. Again, be direct with people, employees, and clients. Don't give a rough and round about way of when someone is going to get started on something. It is OK to say, "I don't know when but my eventual plans within the next (months, years... whatever) are to have you...." If you can be specific, do so. If you can't, say so.
Until tomorrow,
Twyla N. Garrett
Showing posts with label business plan mistakes. Show all posts
Showing posts with label business plan mistakes. Show all posts
Tuesday, August 4, 2015
Monday, August 3, 2015
Business Book Recommendation
I want to start recommending books that I have read and have found helpful in my continuing journey as an entrepreneur. Success doesn’t happen overnight and it doesn’t come easy. While everyone may have advice for you, the best thing I can say is to create your own path. You should learn from others but apply it to your own situation. Don’t copy others because then you’re simply repacking an existing idea.
All this said, my first Monday Book recommendation is called ‘The $100 Startup: Reinvent the Way You Make a Living, Do What You Love, and Create a New Future’. I am in NO way affiliated with this book. I don’t know who wrote it nor do I have a relationship with anyone who worked on it. I simply love the content and feel that it can help so many of you, too. Here’s the link to buy it on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/100-Startup-Reinvent-Living-Create/dp/0307951529/ref=sr_1_13?ie=UTF8&qid=1438646501&sr=8-13&keywords=business
It’s over 300 pages and there is a video trailer on the Amazon site for the book. I love this book because it doesn’t present a roadmap as to how you can get rich. Instead, it presents options to really look at yourself, what you want, and how to get yourself in the right mindset to get there… even if it is with only $100!
When you’re doing reading this book, please share your thoughts with me. I am eager to read what you liked and hated about this book.
Until next time,
Twyla N. Garrett
All this said, my first Monday Book recommendation is called ‘The $100 Startup: Reinvent the Way You Make a Living, Do What You Love, and Create a New Future’. I am in NO way affiliated with this book. I don’t know who wrote it nor do I have a relationship with anyone who worked on it. I simply love the content and feel that it can help so many of you, too. Here’s the link to buy it on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/100-Startup-Reinvent-Living-Create/dp/0307951529/ref=sr_1_13?ie=UTF8&qid=1438646501&sr=8-13&keywords=business
It’s over 300 pages and there is a video trailer on the Amazon site for the book. I love this book because it doesn’t present a roadmap as to how you can get rich. Instead, it presents options to really look at yourself, what you want, and how to get yourself in the right mindset to get there… even if it is with only $100!
When you’re doing reading this book, please share your thoughts with me. I am eager to read what you liked and hated about this book.
Until next time,
Twyla N. Garrett
Wednesday, July 29, 2015
Gaining Control Over Social Media
Tonight I want to address an issue I am seeing on an continued basis. Your personal online content. I read a terrible Facebook rant over the weekend and I’m sickened that a business professional would put her hateful opinions for clients and peers to read on her personal Facebook page.
Now, some of you might say that it is her personal page. Sure it is, it is just archived onto Google’s search engine for the world to read. She is entitled to her hateful opinion but she is going to have business lost to it. Peers will soon catch on and stop referring her too. I will not repeat what she said, only that it is filled with hate and aimed at a certain demographic of sexually orientated people.
I can’t stress enough that nothing you write is personal anymore. Friends can quickly become enemies and take screen shots of your “private” social media accounts for all the world to see. Don’t ever write anything on your personal pages that you wouldn’t want to proudly read- out-loud- in front of a client or potential client.
As a business professional, you don’t have a personal life. Your clients’ lives are your obligation- both personally and professionally when it comes to branding and visibility. Voicing your own opinions online (even via a personal account) will harm your own reputation- right or wrong, this is the culture we live in.
Keep it professional and keep those negative or opinionated posts off of social media!
Twyla Garrett
Now, some of you might say that it is her personal page. Sure it is, it is just archived onto Google’s search engine for the world to read. She is entitled to her hateful opinion but she is going to have business lost to it. Peers will soon catch on and stop referring her too. I will not repeat what she said, only that it is filled with hate and aimed at a certain demographic of sexually orientated people.
I can’t stress enough that nothing you write is personal anymore. Friends can quickly become enemies and take screen shots of your “private” social media accounts for all the world to see. Don’t ever write anything on your personal pages that you wouldn’t want to proudly read- out-loud- in front of a client or potential client.
As a business professional, you don’t have a personal life. Your clients’ lives are your obligation- both personally and professionally when it comes to branding and visibility. Voicing your own opinions online (even via a personal account) will harm your own reputation- right or wrong, this is the culture we live in.
Keep it professional and keep those negative or opinionated posts off of social media!
Twyla Garrett
Tuesday, March 17, 2015
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
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
Monday, August 25, 2014
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/
Sunday, February 24, 2013
Business Plan Mistakes!
There are a lot of mistakes to be made when writing a business plan. So, what are they? As a professional who owns several businesses, allow me to share the top three business plan mistakes.
#1- Too much text. People are BUSY. Don't get too fancy with large words, extra research or over analyzing situations before they happen. Be concise and to the point. If an investor is interested he or she will ask you for the details.
#2- Lax in research. You don't want to include too much text but you don't want to skip on the research. Investors like numbers and data. It helps them predict their ROI. So, include the research and cite it, too. Don't say "according to studies"- note the studies!
#3- Don't focus on the products or services. I know this sounds strange, but it works. Focus on how your products or services solves a customers's problem. If you talk too much about your product is wonderful and you fail to explain why it is wonderful- your business plan will not be convincing.
Have questions on your business plan? Feel free to contact me on Twitter and ask!
Twyla
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