Your values vs your politicians votes

Day 1 and Pitches

Webinars--join us!

Over the last few months I have been fortunate to meet tons of people. From just meeting people out networking, expos and events I’ve attended, speaking engagements, and even some great workshops we’ve put together.

From all these meetings, talks, conversations I’ve started to see a trend. This is a trend of what some of the most successful people are doing to not just survive but excel in today’s economy. I share some of these insights on this blog, in my daily podcast, and other various places I hang out online…

I thought it was just me but I’ve been talking almost daily with Robert Dempsey of LifeOfTheFreelancer.com and he has noticed the same thing. So here’s what we decided to to about it… but as Robert and I got to talking we realized that maybe the best way to share these insights is in a live event.

A Webinar is Born

So we decided to do a webinar titled How to Thrive in Today’s Economy.

Date: Thursday, October 14th, 2010
Time: 2PM Central (CDT)
Who: Scott Scanlon and Robert Dempsey of Life Of the Freelancer.
Registration: Register below

To learn a little more about what we envision for this watch the quick conversation the champion of the freelancer and I did yesterday:

What is the Webinar About?

Enter email to register…

Are you ready to launch your idea? (image by jurvetson)

Do you have an idea, maybe a cause, or some type of technology you wish just existed? In this post I will share with you how we recently helped launch an idea and how you can do the same.

For this case study let’s use our recent experience with launching Polywiks at Start Up Weekend Twin Cities (click here to learn more about that). Here are the steps to take…

Step 1 – Clearly Define Your Idea

This is the most important. You have to be able to sell your idea, position it in the market place and it has to be a no brainier. Also it helps if it is something you are passionate about.

Jefferey Miller with PolyWiks clearly did this with his pitch and in private conversations. Polywiks – your values vs your politicians votes.

Step 2 – Do Others Care?

Create a landing page with a short video that is right to the point. On this landing page give people the opportunity to learn a little more, share via Facebook, Twitter, and enter their email address to get more information. This will tell you if your idea has legs.

We did this with Polywiks, we quickly shot a video with Jefferey Miller whose team and idea we decided to champion. After a couple of takes and editing in a call to action (website and Facebook) and we were off.

Step 3 – Use Your Existing Audience

This step wouldn’t have been possible a few years ago. Use your existing audience and with the help of some social media targeting create a ground swell of sharing and conversation.

We used the phone, Facebook, Twitter, and email to create buzz and a groundswell of activity.

Step 4 – Communicate and Share

Once you are building momentum and gaining a larger audience continue to share, educate and connect. Then move your idea along and grow your support.

We released pictures, updates, and videos. Plus asked for more support.

The Results

I should mention for this project we didn’t go all out for a couple of reasons. First the idea hasn’t been completely fleshed out yet and second we had to put our energies in other areas for the weekend competition. Here are the numbers as of Sunday night:

• Launch Time: 5:15PM Saturday website went live. Facebook page went live 6:30PM.
• Email Subscribers: 50
• Twitter Mentions: 450
• Facebook Likes (page):  135
• Facebook Likes (website): 36
• Mentions: A few in forums and other sources
• Traffic: 303 daily (still growing)

Admittedly these are not super huge numbers but let me mention a few things.

50 people on email list is a great start. Even if only 2 or 3 of those on that list want to champion your cause or idea you are on your way.  If we would have really gone all out I think we could have easily at least quadrupled our results.

The main point is–today and as you read this never before has it been possible for you to garner support for an idea in such a quick time. So if you have an idea get out there and launch it.

Think and Leave Your Opinion (Howdy, I'm H. Michael Karshis)

One way to differentiate yourself right now is to have a opinion. But go deeper and have an opinion about your industry, your niche, or what you do.  But I know you’re saying… I already have one of those (or a few). Awesome!

The next step is make sure those opinions are valid and you can actually back them up. Having an opinion is simply not enough. The ability to persuade and sway others to your side is where the true power resides.

Read further or watch video below.

Think about all the technology changes happening right now. Most are focused on communication. To name a few we have growth of social networks and YouTube. Then there are blogs, overseas voice and video calls, on demand books and podcasts.

Now more than ever has it been easier to get your opinion and your voice heard. But it also means that…

Today it is necessary that you are a critical thinker and can back up these critical thoughts.

It’s not all about talking

There is a point to all these conversations. At least I believe there should be. Your opinion and five dollars will get you a coffee at Starbucks.

So sharing your opinion has to have a greater purpose. A greater goal. This is where the power of crafting a personal image (brand@#!) will complete the circle.

When you share a very well crafted personal opinion, that is spot on and gets to the heart of your target market. Often times it gets circulated immediately and causes people to do a couple of things.

First, they say, hey that makes sense… or no, this person is completely off their rocker. Either way they typically want to engage. Then well the next step is to find out exactly who you are. Enter your personal marketing strategy. When they are interested you this fills that void.

At this point this is where you want to have a blog (with more opinions and value). Also it wouldn’t hurt to be well represented in social media. From there is where the money and income flows.

Now how exactly does your opinion become an cash register?

If you are swaying people to your side (by critical thought) there will be no shortage of people who want to work with you, your company, or buy your product or service. It’s really that simple.

A Word of Caution

When you state an opinion you immediately have people that disagree with you.

Good. That’s all on that.

But There is a Catch…

Beyond an opinion you must have substance to what you do.

Why do people listen to Warren Buffet? This is a stretch but I think it has something to do with his track record on investing and making money. Just a guess (sarcasm).

So you can sit on the mountain and spout opinions all day but if you have no substance with what you do or measure of success your opinion means next to nothing. Sorry it’s reality (no sarcasm).

So before you share an opinion and spend time backing it up do a check and make sure that you have substance. Ask yourself does my opinion have weight based on my accomplishments.

I’m not saying someone won’t listen to you without accomplishments, they might, but your opinion will get no traction unless you have the accomplishments to back it up.

It’s also not necessary to have the same level of huge success that Mr. Buffet has. You simply just have to have some measure of success.

What Should You Do Now?

I find it userful to dress like Socrates to critally think (Picture by tiseb)

First, I would suggest you dress up like Socrates (trust me this helps). Then look at your market or niche. See where there are opinions, thoughts, or even misconceptions. Take a stand, state an opinion, make it good.

Then think critically about it. Tear it apart, prove yourself wrong, bring yourself to a point where you simply start doubting yourself. If you still feel inside it is right and you can sway people to your side then go tell the world.

(shameless plug) Now if you need help telling the world you’ll see on the upper right of this page there is a place to enter your email. Here you will learn over the next couple days tips and secrets to finding your target market to make the sharing of your opinion a little easier.

While forging relationships with reporters and writers is a good strategy, this is a long term approach.

What if you could get up to the minute requests from reporters who wanted your expertise?

What if you knew of reporters who absolutely had to know inside knowledge about what you do each and every day?

This would be be valuable wouldn’t it.

That’s exactly what the free email delivered service HARO (help a reporter out) sends out each and every day.

How HARO Works

Reporters (who are on deadlines) are always looking for sources. Usually they are given a story or a guideline of a story. From there they set out and do research. They talk to all sorts of people. Many times the reporters aren’t well versed on the subject matter.

So they immediately start looking for trusted sources.

Add to that a deadline they are under and this can be a challenge.

So as a reporter or someone looking for a source, they can go to HARO, and enter the requirements for what they are looking for.

HARO sends out these emails daily.

It used to be three times a day but now they have segmented the lists.

It takes less than 2 minutes to scan thorough these emails to see if there is a reporter you can help out.

If you see a story you could provide value with you simply follow the direction that the reporter has provided. It’s that simple. Now while not guaranteed to get you press, as with anything else it’s one more brick in your foundation.

It’s that simple.

HARO used to send out one large email, but they now let you choose the different types of updates you would like.

Currently HARO has these categories:

• Business and Finance
• Lifestyle and Fitness
• Giftbag
• High Tech
• General
• Travel

They intend on adding these categories when they get enough queries to justify it:

• Biotech and Healthcare
• Entertainment and Media
• Education
• Energy and Green Tech
• Sports
• Public Policy and Government

There are 5 Rules

HARO does have rules, and these rules are one of the many the reasons why reporters trust HARO.

1. You will get three emails a day, M-F, with reporter queries from reporters and outlets from all over the world. Scan the emails, and if you’re knowledgeable about any of the topics, answer the reporter directly.
2. Don’t SPAM reporters with off-topic pitches in response to their queries.
3. You MAY forward queries to friends, but DO NOT post them on blogs or anywhere on the web.
4. You’re not allowed to harvest the reporter email addresses in the HARO emails for any reason.
5. Be excellent to each other.

Seems pretty fair doesn’t it?

But Don’t Just Think About Yourself

Here is a great networking tip. You see a request for someone you know. Let’s say you know Sally that runs a floral shop. You see a reporter looking for small time floral shop owners who have embraced social media. That doesn’t work for you but you instantly think of Sally. Would she appreciate if you forwarded this along…

Sally, I subscribe to a free service that let’s me know when reporters and magazine writers are requesting sources. When I looked at it today I instantly thought of you.

I’ve included it below. If this is something you can help them with I would get it to them right away as the deadline is 6pm tomorrow. I just wanted to forward that over, I look forward to coming in again and picking up some flowers. Good luck.

That doesn’t take that long does it?

Do you think Sally would remember that you did this even if she didn’t get mentioned in the story?

About Us From HARO

Click image to view Personal branding is a joke.

You can watch that special report here.

Three core reasons we feel personal branding is a joke:

• It feels like a rejected corporate catch line
• It’s like packaging with no real substance
• Brands tend to based on single common theme, most people have more depth than this

Here’s a few quotes from the:
“Screw Google! if the internet dies, phones evaporate, and Apple renames the IPad to something that doesn’t sound like a female hygiene product, people will still search for miles and miles to come get what I’ve got…”

“A brand does not define the depth of a person”

“What did Tiger and Oprah do?” (Yes as required we mention Tiger and Oprah).