by Daria Steigman on July 31, 2008
Most people would never consider wearing old jeans and a tank top to a new business meeting. But have you ever noticed how lots of people have poor calling cards?
Your business card is a reflection of your business. You want that prospective client or customer to get a “wow” factor from the whole package. If your card sports a cluttered design, has been printed on cheap paper, or is otherwise not up to par, you may inadvertently be sending a signal that you’re not as polished and ready for primetime as you think you are.
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Tagged as:
Brand,
Business Cards
by Daria Steigman on July 29, 2008
Today’s Stupidity Award goes to Jim Coleman Cadillac, which is trying to lure Toyota Prius owners into trading in their energy-efficient hybrids for new cars that average 15-20 mpg. The supposed hook? “$1,000 over Kelley Blue Book fair value.”
Anyone who thinks that Prius and Cadillac buyers are interchangeable is clearly delusional. And doesn’t have even a passing acquaintance with market research. Of course, this is the same outfit whose repair shop “lost” my front license plate a couple of years back.
But, take heart Coleman Cadillac, your letter wasn’t a complete waste of money. Thanks for reminding me that my 2001 Prius is a hot commodity. I’ll keep it mind if and when I decide to trade it in–for another hybrid.
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Tagged as:
Cadillac,
Jim Coleman Cadillac,
Prius,
Toyota
by Daria Steigman on July 28, 2008
I recently reviewed proposals for a federal agency. It was a worthwhile use of my time for six key reasons:
- I got to see examples of well-constructed proposals and some that were not so good. In the process, I picked up some tips I can apply if and when I respond to a federal RFP.
- I was reminded that you can’t assume your readers are jargon junkies. Companies assume their reviewers share a fondness for acronyms at their peril.
- Organization counts. I don’t care if a request for proposals is convoluted; your response shouldn’t be. A reviewer is likely to score your application higher if he/she can identify the key elements and follow your discussion.
- Results count. Give me examples that demonstrate your expertise and how your work helped other clients.
- It takes time to keep up-to-date. Serving as a reviewer gave me a glimpse into how others build their communications methodologies. Even one tiny takeaway is helpful.
- My fellow reviewers were really smart people. Each brought his/her expertise to the table, and I learned from their perspectives.
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Tagged as:
Professional Development
by Daria Steigman on July 24, 2008
Sales people are always trying to sell something. That’s what they do. I know one terrific salesperson who could sell you the Brooklyn Bridge and convince you that you could move it into your back yard. Great, until you find out the promise and the reality don’t mesh.
Too many consultancies operate like sales operations: they close the deal and then try to figure out how to do the job. But consulting isn’t transactional; it’s about adding value.
Are you willing to tell a potential client their premise is flawed or what they want to do won’t work? I’d rather lose a job upfront than set everyone up for problems later.
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Tagged as:
Sales,
Value,
Value Proposition
by Daria Steigman on July 23, 2008
No one wants to be fired, but the consequences of staying in a bad job, including loss of confidence, inertia, and fear, are worse. So why do most bosses do such a lousy job of severing ties? All that does is make an unhappy employee even more unhappy. And shafting workers is never good for your brand.
Read Wil Schroter’s useful article on how and why to fire someone with dignity.
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Tagged as:
Business,
Wil Schroter
