Monday, June 30, 2014

A thing or two about running a business from Boardwalk Empire

A thing or two about running a business from Boardwalk Empire
No matter how history looks at mobsters, whether they are dismissed as murderous thugs or power-hungry businessmen, their influence on our culture – fictional or historical – is undeniable.
That influence is depicted in HBO’s Boardwalk Empire, a series set in Atlantic City during the Prohibition era. The show’s lead character, Nucky Thompson, is a politician who was able to rise to prominence because of his sleek business dexterity and charm.
Thompson is faced with organizational, legal and personal problems along with the ambition of staying afloat in his self-built underground economy.
Business owners and marketers can gain valuable wisdom from the premise of Boardwalk Empire:
Demand spawns business opportunities.
With the entire country prohibited to manufacture and sell alcohols for more than a decade, the demand for such was almost inevitable. Nucky saw this as a golden shot to make unprecedented profit and went on to amass power and influence in the process.
Not advocating underground and illegal means of doing business here, but it’s noteworthy to point out how businesspeople should be constantly observing their surrounding for potential rise of demand.
Value your connections.
Heads of organized crime groups have power that is more or less equal to the extent of their connections or ‘network of influence’. These are intangible assets that come in handy whenever strings need to be pulled to get something done.
In a way, your business connections can also help you achieve your (legitimate) goals, particularly lead generation. Your affiliation with industry authorities and influencers can provide you with the exposure and traffic that your business needs.
Don’t let your competition gain the upper hand.
It’s not just about getting more aggressive and putting more risk on the table. To really outsmart your competitors means learning about them a bit deeper and knowing the kind of weapon they have in their arsenal that they could throw at you.
Luckily you don’t need to hire goons and make them snoop around for information. In this age of information technology, almost everything is out there – you just need to know which information to pick and use.
Watch your movements closely.
Because of Nucky’s apparent bootlegging success, all eyes – federal agents, competitors, and just anyone who just wants a piece of the action – are on him. Still, he breezes through the pressure and drama of keeping his venture alive and kicking.

It takes real leadership and business skills to bring everyone aboard and share a vision for a company. A lot of distractions and hurdles may get in the way, but by operating wisely and carrying out well-thought actions, you could build your own business empire.

Thursday, June 26, 2014

Factors To Remember When Outsourcing B2B Appointment Setting


Before you decide to outsource your b2b appointment setting campaign to an appointment setting service provider, you have to take note of these 7 factors. Knowing these things about your BPO of choice is a must if you want your appointment setting campaign to be successful and ensure your ROI.

It's better to invest with companies who can provide quality leads in a estimated period of time than those who promised to have fast return of investment but without a solid estimation.


Tuesday, June 3, 2014

The Ultimate List of Who’s Who in B2B Marketing this 2014

The Ultimate List of Who’s Who in B2B Marketing this 2014

There’s a reason why influencers are called as they are.
Not only do they influence people by means of dishing out valuable insights – in this case, marketing trends, techniques and just about anything that only experienced veterans can share – but they also influence fellow marketers by giving them a much-needed. albeit meager, share of the limelight.
Hence, it is important to be in constant knowledge of who these people are and how they can assist in your lead generation and thought leadership goals.
In the B2B Digital Marketing sphere, the top influencers every marketers should follow on social networking sites are as follows:
Jay Baer (@jaybaer) – President, Convince & Convert
Jay has consulted with more than 700 companies on digital marketing since 1994 including Caterpillar, Nike, and 30 of the Fortune 500. He was named one of America’s top social media consultants by Fast Company magazine and the Convince & Convert blog is ranked as the worlds #1 content marketing resource by the Content Marketing Institute.

Ann Handley (@MarketingProfs) – Chief Content Officer, MarketingProfs
Ann Handley is a veteran of creating and managing digital content to build relationships for organizations and individuals. She is co-author of the best-selling Content Rules: How to Create Killer Blogs, Podcasts, Videos, Ebooks, Webinars (and More) That Engage Customers and Ignite Your Business (Wiley).

Jon Miller (@jonmiller) – VP, Marketo

Jon leads Marketo's product marketing, strategy, and content marketing initiatives. He is the author of multiple Definitive Guides including Marketing Automation, Engaging Email Marketing, and Marketing Metrics & Analytics. In 2010, The CMO Institute named Jon a Top 10 CMO for companies under $250 million revenue.

Michael Brenner (@BrennerMichael) –  VP of Global Marketing and Content Strategy, SAP
Michael has  been working in leadership, marketing and sales roles for nearly 20 years serving a diverse group of industries. He is the Managing Editor for this SAP Business Innovation site. He is also the author of B2B Marketing Insider.

Joe Pulizzi (@joepulizzi) – Founder, Content Marketing Institute
Joe is head of the leading education and training organization for content marketing, which includes the largest in-person content marketing event in the world, Content Marketing World. Joe’s third book, Epic Content Marketing: How to Tell a Different Story, Break through the Clutter, and Win More Customers by Marketing Less was named one of “Five Must Read Business Books of 2013” by Fortune Magazine.

Michael Stelzner (@Mike_Stelzner) – Founder, Social Media Examiner
Aside from being CEO of Social Media Examiner, Michael is also the author of the books Launch and Writing White Papers and the man behind large events, such as Social Media Marketing World and Social Media Success Summit. He is also host of the Social Media Marketing podcast show.