by Daria Steigman on September 22, 2009
Each week I’m highlighting 3 or 4 posts, surveys, and other news that I have read and/or tweeted about that you may not have seen. As the name implies, I think they deserve a second look.
Here’s your second look for this week:
- The Talent Innovation Imperative: This is a must read for anyone interested in how organizations foster talent. The article looks at four main priorities for a 21st century model: differentiated capabilities, performance acceleration, leadership development, and the fostering of a talent culture. Shout out to Colette Cote for alerting me to this one.
- 100 Blogging Tips: The first tip in Dragos Roua’s terrific list: Keep an Idea Incubator. Tip 2: Make a Mindmap of Your Blog. This is one of those rare posts you will want to bookmark and revisit periodically for inspiration.
- Winning Value Propositions: Anthony Tjan discusses four value propositions that work (best quality, best price, must have, want to have).
Tagged as:
Anthony Tjan,
blogging,
Colette Cote,
Dragos Roua,
Innovation,
Value Proposition
by Daria Steigman on October 31, 2008
Thinking of going independent or starting a business? Before you quit your day job, here are a few “top of mind” things to consider:
- your risk tolerance
- your comfort level with doing business development
- your level of discipline
- your value proposition (why clients should hire you instead of all the other solo practitioners in the marketplace)
As a would-be entrepreneur, you should also develop a business plan right away–before taking any other steps. Developing a business plan will force you to focus on your goals and what is aspirational, what is achievable in the shorter term, and what resources it will take to succeed.
Tagged as:
Business Development,
Entrepreneurship,
Risk Tolerance,
Value Proposition
by Daria Steigman on September 16, 2008
U.S. airlines, except for “Hallelujah” Southwest Airlines (congrats on the great ads), have so diluted their brands that the companies are becoming increasingly interchangeable.
On my American Airlines flight to Dallas last week, the flight attendant went through a long list of food and drink prices and payment options. So when she asked me if I wanted anything, I asked how much the sodas cost. Apparently they’re still free, but I was the fourth person in 8 rows on a half-empty plane to ask.
So American Airlines’ selling point is that the soda’s still free. But don’t ask for an aspirin; those have been removed.
Hopefully your company can identify its competitive advantages. Otherwise your mediocrity will catch up with you, and your customers won’t care if they do business with you or not.
Tagged as:
Airlines,
marketing,
PR,
Value Proposition
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.
Tagged as:
Sales,
Value,
Value Proposition
by Daria Steigman on June 4, 2008
In today’s tough economy, it’s more important than ever to stand out from the crowd. I’m tired of hearing that the communications field is crowded and that we’re all in competition. Oh, really? Even when two companies or two consultants are marketing the same services, their backgrounds, expertise, and brands aren’t the same. In order to run a successful business, you must be able to identify your unique selling points. What’s your competitive edge?
Tagged as:
Value Proposition
