Why say thank you in the first place?  We say thanks because we acknowledge that the other person didn’t necessarily have to do what they did for us.  Your customer could have gone elsewhere for their product or service, for example.  By saying thank you, you are thanking them for their choice to support you and showing them why helping you was a good decision.

In business, demonstrating your gratitude is essential if you want to continue with a business relationship.  If a customer or client feels taken advantage of or simply “used” for their money, they are very likely to seek out alternatives to your product or service the next time around.  Long-term customers are hard to come by, so you should show your appreciation often and sincerely.

In life, saying thank you demonstrates that you appreciate the other person and do not feel entitled to their help or support.  This makes the other person feel valued and important.  Such positive emotions ensure that someone will have an incentive to support you in the future.  We are, by nature, emotional beings.

So how should you say thank you?  Sometimes we rely too heavily on a simple verbal “thanks”.  If you think about it, the spoken thank you is the easiest and cheapest way to express gratitude, but it may not be the most effective or lasting.  Because it is so easy to say, it may not seem particularly special or memorable to a client.

Consider the use of a personalized greeting card or some other tool that demonstrates that you took the time to think of them and what they mean to you.  Be specific about what you are thanking them for, so they realize that their support was both notice and appreciated.

Sending a card or small gift is relatively inexpensive, but its value is priceless when you consider its long-term implications.  Saying thanks is a win-win: you feel good, and they feel good.

Janet Hill Jackson

Appreciation Marketing Advocate

The BirdDog Group

We all know it feels great to know we’re valued, but how often do we remember to tell others that we appreciate them in return?  To energize yourself and others, make an effort to let people know – often and in detail – what makes them a valuable part of your life.

Tony Schwartz, author of an article entitled “Why Appreciation Matters So Much”, via the Harvard Business Review website, writes that whether employees feel their managers are truly interested in their wellbeing is the “single highest driver of engagement” according to a study by Towers Watson.  Unfortunately, less than 40% of employees feel that way.

Why the disconnect?  In the business world, we are a lot more used to doling out and receiving negative feedback, usually geared toward fixing problems.  Attempts at giving positive feedback and showing our appreciation can sometimes come off as awkward and contrived and contrived, but it doesn’t have to be that way.

To effectively show your appreciation to someone else, it’s important that you really have an understanding of their value to your life, job, or current situation.  While it may seem easier to point out what someone is doing wrong, most people (most of the time) are doing a good job.  So take notice!  Be as specific as your can with your praise and try to frame it from their perspective.  Write a note, shoot an email, or better yet, say it in person.  Look them in the eye and say “Thank you.”

Mark Twain said, “I can live for two months on a good compliment.”  If you’re still not convinced of the power of positive reinforcement, try to remember the last time someone told you they appreciated you or paid you a compliment.  If you’re like most people, you felt great and even energized. Show your appreciation now.

Janet Hill Jackson

Appreciation Marketing Advocate

The BirdDog Group

1. Know your goals.

What are you trying to communicate?  Are you writing to inform?  Persuade?  Your purpose in writing will affect the tone and style of your web copy.  What do you hope occurs as a result of someone reading your web copy?  For example, if you want people to check out your main webpage, make sure you include a link.  If you want people to learn more about a particular topic, post a recommended reading list.

1. Make it personal.

Know your audience.  Write to that demographic, or at least don’t offend anyone.  You are writing for your audience; you are not writing for yourself.  Write about what your target audience wants to read about, not necessarily what you feel like writing about.  Try to appeal to peoples’ emotions.  If you can connect with someone emotionally, you’ve already won half the battle.

1. Keep it simple.

Your web copy must be utterly readable.  Spend some time and create a catchy title and equally compelling sub-headings for the rest of the content.  Most people scan articles without reading them all the way through, so treat those sub-headings as last-ditch efforts to reel them in.  Keep your sentences simple and straightforward.  Read it out loud to make sure it makes sense.  Avoid run-on sentences, and (overly) pretentious vocabulary or industry jargon that will alienate some readers.

1. Make it visually appealing.

We’ve all stumbled onto those horrifying websites with terrible color schemes and illegible fonts.  You know, where they use a childish-looking yellow font on a hot pink background (or something to that effect).  Don’t do this to your readers.  Use color, but strategically.  Leave lots of white spaces, and use bold/underline to highlight titles and headings.  In short, make it look nice.  Add graphics and links.

1. Use keywords.

Since you know the value of SEO, think about how you would Google the topic you are writing about, and then use those words when you write your web copy.

1. Edit.

Typos and misspellings make you look bad and undermine the strength of your arguments.  Have someone else proofread, since they have fresh eyes.

If you follow these tips, you’ll be on your way to writing fantastic web copy!

John Bradley Jackson

Top Dog

The BirdDog Group

If the blog is sub-domain to the main website, the new and original blog content also organically updates the site for the search engines. Rank will increase and your site will be found. When you are found your message gets heard and you have the chance to create conversions: buy now,  contact us, etc.

Yet, many folks struggle with finding topics to write about. The attached article offers a list of creative ideas about to uncover blog topics. Check it out.

http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/223023?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+entrepreneur%2Flatest+%28Entrepreneur%29

John Bradley Jackson

Top Dog

The BirdDog Group

A community manager manages a specific community and/or platform for an organization. He or she may wear many hats including brand champion and engagement specialist for that community. The community manager may be tasked to create and manage content. In a nutshell, a community manager uses online networks to be the voice of the company to the community and the voice of the community to the company.

Generally,  a very digital-savvy employee, her or she is responsible for all communications, PR, social media, events, and out bound messages.

This role can be in-house or outsourced but the job requires someone who is intimate with the brand and has the authority to make decisions.

John Bradley Jackson

Top Dog

The BirdDog Group

I met Steve about 12 years ago. After my Silicon Valley days, I took a tour on Wall Street with a company called Bowne; the firm helped other firms raise money in the capital markets. As it turns out, Steve’s company, Pixar, was our client. True to form, Steve was a perfectionist who demanded (i.e. screamed for) “new” dry erase markers and bullied our staff relentlessly. The IPO was successful and propelled Steve to billionaire status. For many years, our firm would brag about our role.

Yet, I choose to remember what a jerk he was and how poorly he treated others. Per his official biographer, Steve treated many people or, maybe, most people this way. He rationalized this arrogant and mean behavior because of his intense desire to make things better.

For those of you who missed the 60 Minutes episode devoted to Steve Jobs, here is the link.

Steve Jobs: rest in peace.

John Bradley Jackson

Top Dog

The BirdDog Group

This interview was hosted by Theresa Harvey of the Fullerton Chamber of Commerce.

Issues addressed include:

• What it takes to be an Entrepreneur
• The role of social media in a start up
• How great beer gets made in Fullerton
• How the University partners with local business.

Listen to link dated June 3, 2011 in the Fullerton Chamber archives.

http://beachcitiesradio.com/on-air/friday/the-fullerton-chamber-hour

John Bradley Jackson
Top Dog
The BirdDog Group

Here is a synopsis of the book:

Have you ever had the feeling that you have experienced a sales and marketing challenge before, but were uncertain about what to do next? Have the conventional tools become less effective for you? You tried direct mail, networking, print advertising, and cold calling. Nothing seems to work anymore. Welcome to the “new normal.”

New and different marketing techniques are needed for you to remain competitive and to stay in business. This new landscape is very complex:

• Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter have replaced the water cooler as the customer hangout.
• E-mail marketing letters are often considered SPAM and don’t even get opened.
• Bricks and mortar stores are now being trumped by websites that offer e-commerce, online chat, blogs, and deep discounts.
• Personal selling has never been harder since customers seem to hide behind voice mail and e-mail.
• Getting your website found in a Google search is increasingly difficult as the battle for keywords rages.

You need to do something better and different — you need “Déjà NEW Marketing.”

John Bradley Jackson
Top Dog

The BirdDog Group
© Copyright 2010
All rights reserved.

The First Annual CSUF and Crexendo Website competition begins in just three weeks. Over $20,000 in prizes.

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For example, author John M. McKee writes about the airline industry and the rush to cut customer services and perks to improve profitability. Believe it or not, flying used to be a pleasant experience for most people. One airline that understands this is Singapore Airlines, which is consistently ranked as the best airline in the world year after year.

McKnee writes, “It’s (Singapore Airlines) also high in the rankings of “most admired” in any industry worldwide. Here’s their “secret”: While other airline leaders directed expense cuts to service so they could discount fare prices and “save” their company, Singapore’s CEO Chew Choon Seng reduced the number of flights but continued to spend on customer service aspects that would improve their look and feel to customers. Those who flew on Singapore experienced good service and good food. Increased customer approval ratings show this works. It would in any industry”.

Meanwhile, American Airlines, United Airlines, and the rest are charging you for luggage, pillows, and lousy headphones. The airline crowd is simply wrong. People want economical flights but want to be treated humanely.

Ignore the crowd. Better yet, do the opposite of what they do.

John Bradley Jackson
Top Dog

The BirdDog Group
© Copyright 2010
All rights reserved.

Source: June 14, Fortune