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PROFITABLE CONNECTIONS
August 2023
SHARE YOUR WISDOM And Become a Thought Leader!
You may have heard the term "thought leadership" or "thought leader" going around lately, in an article you read, from someone at work, or at a networking event. We're willing to bet that if you didn't already know the meaning of the term when you heard it for the first time — or if you’ve never heard it before now — you probably assumed a thought leader is some celebrity, esteemed academic, or a person of colossal influence swaying the ideas of the masses. The truth is, YOU can be a thought leader, and doing so is incredibly beneficial for your business and brand. So first, before we tell you exactly how to make thought leadership happen for you, let's define the concept. What is thought leadership? Generally, thought leadership occurs whenever you or your internal team share your wisdom on a topic in your field. That's it! Now, you can spend days or weeks writing articles and pitching them to publications, posting them on your blog, or sending them in emails to your team. But because of how labor-intensive that process is, it may not seem worth it. Plus, long — and sometimes technical — articles are less interesting for audiences to follow and require a larger focus commitment. Conversely, a conversation is much more attractive for those interested in the knowledge you have to share. Listening to two people talk is something anyone can do while driving, walking the dog, or completing chores. Thus, podcasts are a fantastic medium to make your foray into thought leadership. If you already have a podcast, adding thought leadership episodes can be critical to its success. How Thought Leadership Podcast Episodes Can Benefit You No. 1: They position you as an expert in your field. You know your business better than anyone, and there are likely many things you've learned along the way that have helped your business thrive in your market. We're not saying you need to give away your secret formula, but sharing key insights can demonstrate your expertise and strengthen your authority in your industry. No. 2: You can address questions from your clients. Before agreeing to purchase a product or service from you, your clients or customers will likely have a few questions. Finding answers to these questions traditionally requires extensive internet searching or contacting your customer service team.
With a thought leadership podcast episode, you can take those frequently asked questions your customer service team receives and answer them in a personal and digestible way. Then, when new customers find themselves searching for the same answers, you can direct them to your podcast episode, which shares your knowledge, demonstrates credibility, builds a connection, and, most importantly, answers their questions so they can finally make a purchase. No. 3: You can use these episodes to train your customer support and sales team Your team must also be well-versed in the industry-related knowledge and wisdom you've gained as it applies to your business. By sharing your expertise directly, you can equip your team members with the proper knowledge to provide top-notch customer support and have the most valuable information for prospects. Finally, when you make thought leadership podcast episodes, you have various types to choose from, depending on the value you wish to gain. For example, we had a client who wanted Microsoft as a client. So they decided to demonstrate their expertise and authority by making a "teardown” thought leadership episode, where they critiqued the area of Microsoft's business they believed their company could help improve. Then they sent this podcast episode to Microsoft, who listened to what they had to say — and hired them! So if you'd like to build your authority, save time, and train your team more effectively, we highly recommend creating thought leadership podcast episodes. If you don't know where to start, call us at 312-884-1197 to start recording!
–Dr. Jeremy Weisz & John Corcoran
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Ongoing Education Makes a Difference Make Learning a Workplace Must
The last thing you want is a workforce filled with people living for the weekend. The grueling “work is just a paycheck” mindset doesn’t benefit your employees or your business. So, how can you boost motivation and create a work environment where employees actually feel like they matter? Opportunities to learn and grow are vital and not only improve workplace satisfaction but also help improve your overall business. What Motivates Us? Finding motivation isn’t easy, especially when trying to uplift an entire staff with varying skills and concerns. Fortunately, the results are in, and studies have shown that education is a significant factor in keeping people motivated as they search for fulfillment. Daniel H. Pink’s book “Drive: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us” explores how impactful education is for those who are and aren’t motivated in their daily lives.
your company’s success. When they’re inspired, they work harder, which means increased productivity and greater profits for your business. LinkedIn conducted a study on the relationship between workplace learning and contentment to discover how much education truly impacts employee satisfaction. They found that those given learning opportunities were “47% less likely to be stressed, 39% more likely to feel productive and successful, 23% more ready to take on additional responsibilities, and 21% more likely to feel confident and happy.” Impressive, right? So, how can you make this a reality in your business? While frequent training is crucial to encouraging education, you don’t want your employees to feel forced. The key is to be upfront and let them have a say on what they would like to learn more about, how they want to achieve it, and when they want to accomplish it. You want to make education as easy as possible for your team to benefit thoroughly and even be happy while learning! Another surefire way to enhance the learning experience is by joining in as a classmate. You can lead by example and show that everyone, including you, can profit from learning something new. This can make any training feel less like a mandatory snoozefest and more like a meaningful activity. With career burnout becoming more common, you need to support your team and ensure they feel like their hard work matters. When they learn more and feel accomplished about their career, productivity advances further than you can imagine. Educated and motivated employees equate to better business results!
According to Pink, humans need three elements to feel fulfilled and inspired: autonomy, mastery, and purpose. The solution to all three aspects is learning, and what better way to motivate your team than to create a learning environment? Foster learning by providing ongoing training and opportunities to learn from one another. Benefits of Educated and Fulfilled Employees
How your employees view their work, and their lives in general, directly impacts
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Rise25: Helping B2B Businesses Build Profitable Connections
This Month’s Featured ‘Inspired Insider’ Podcasts
Making Powerful Connections Through Warm Introductions With Joe Mindak
How to Start a Beauty Brand From Scratch With Anthony Standifer
Serial entrepreneur Joe Mindak is the Founder of The Connective, a high-level networking community of purpose- driven connectors, who open doors for entrepreneurs and subject-matter experts through warm introductions. Joe has
Anthony Standifer is the Co-founder and Chief Marketing Officer for the mSEED Group, a contract manufacturer and marketing agency specializing in expediting the growth of small businesses and entrepreneurs in the beauty and personal care space. In its five-year
started and grown several businesses,
including a magazine, a beer company, and a
existence, mSEED Group has become a seven-figure company that launches and supports development for more than 150 brands. Listen to this “Inspired Insider Podcast” episode with Dr. Jeremy Weisz featuring the Co-founder and Chief Marketing Officer for the mSEED Group, Anthony Standifer. They discuss Anthony’s journey into cosmetics product manufacturing, how his company supports small beauty brands, how to start a cosmetic line, and more.
marketing company. His latest venture is Nolodex, a software company that powers The Connective and is available for public use. Tune in to this episode of the “Inspired Insider Podcast” with host Dr. Jeremy Weisz as he sits down with the Founder of The Connective, Joe Mindak. Learn more about the backstory of this innovative networking community, including why The Connective is such a powerful platform, the selective process it takes to get a network invitation, and the common mistakes people make when forming connections.
Scan the QR code or visit the link to listen to the full episode.
Scan the QR code or visit the link to listen to the full episode.
InspiredInsider.com/ anthony-standifer-interview
InspiredInsider.com/ joe-mindak-interview
This Month’s Featured ‘Smart Business Revolution’ Podcasts
Lessons Learned From a Tough Childhood and the Value of Nurturing Business Relationships
Entrepreneurship and Strategies for Working With Your Mentor and College Professors
Dennis Gorya is the Co-founder, CEO, and Partner at Tidal Commerce, an elite Shopify Plus partner and expert in managed commerce services. The company helps businesses build and manage their digital store infrastructure, optimize customer experiences, and convert traffic
Jabez LeBret is the Co- founder of Lotus Launch, an online content library that helps entrepreneurs scale their businesses to seven figures and beyond. He also started GNGF, a marketing agency for lawyers, which he later sold and started a boarding school. He is also a
into sales. Dennis is an accomplished entrepreneur and leader who thrives on sharing his knowledge, experience, and resources to help companies succeed in e-commerce. In this episode of the “Smart Business Revolution Podcast,” John Corcoran is joined by Dennis Gorya to talk about entrepreneurship and building a Shopify Plus partner agency. Dennis shares the strategies he used to build a clothing brand, the lessons he learned working on a big project early in his agency, and how he got to work with his mentor and college professors. Special Shoutouts: A few notable people on Dennis’ journey include Martin Wang, David Frankland, Vicky Bagwalla, and Aziz Mamon.
member of the Entrepreneurs’ Organization (EO) and a speaker, having delivered over 1,200 presentations across the globe. Jabez LeBret joins John Corcoran in this episode of the “Smart Business Revolution Podcast” to talk about his tough childhood and journey to entrepreneurship. They also discuss Jabez’s book, how he started a tuition-free boarding school, and the lessons he learned over the years about building relationships. Special Shoutouts: A notable person on Jabez’s journey is Mark Homer.
Scan the QR code or visit the link to listen to the full episode. SmartBusinessRevolution.com/ dennis-gorya-emp-series- entrepreneurship-and-strategies- for-working-with-your-mentor-and- college-professors
Scan the QR code or visit the link to listen to the full episode. SmartBusinessRevolution.com/ jabez-lebret-lessons-learned-from-a- tough-childhood-and-the-value-of- nurturing-business-relationships
‘When Machines Become Customers’ GIVES A GLIMPSE INTO THE NEAR FUTURE
Artificial intelligence (AI) is everywhere, and it’s not going away any time soon. And while no one can stop how soon it will enter the customer market, you can prepare for it. In the new book “When Machines Become Customers” by Mark Raskino and Don Scheibenreif,
A mysterious 18th-century code has made even geniuses lose sleep. On the grounds of England’s Shugborough Hall lies a code that refuses to be cracked. The monument features an engraving of Nicolas Poussin’s painting “The Shepherds of Arcadia” and the inscription “OUOSVAVV” framed by the letters “DM.” Countless theories have been made, including: • Masonic symbols lead to the hidden location of the Holy Grail treasure with the outside letters “DM,” meaning “Devout Mason.” • A tribute to the owner’s late wife with the letters standing for “Optimae Uxoris Optimae Sororis Viduus Amantissimus Vovit Virtutibus,” meaning, “Best of wives, best of sisters, a most devoted widower dedicates [this] to your virtues.” • The monument is a dead end with jumbled letters to taunt those who look too deeply into inscriptions. THIS ENIGMATIC INSCRIPTION REMAINS UNSOLVED Discover the Theories Behind Shepherd’s Monument O·U·O·S·V·A·V·V While this may seem like a distant reality, it’s closer than you think. This shift in customer demographics requires an all-new approach to marketing and operations that you should be ready to tackle. Read more about how your business can better prepare for machine customers in this outstanding book. machine’s intelligence has increased, and it will be able to shop for various products from a range of companies. Suddenly the work of choosing what products to buy is being moved from the customer to the machine. Machines will decide what items to purchase based on factual information alone, such as best value and healthier ingredients. Finally, phase three involves the machine customer becoming completely autonomous. The AI customer can predict the need for an item, replenish with the best product available, and complete the purchase with zero human interference. This new feature can benefit small-business owners by taking over the time-consuming task of calculating inventory, identifying customer preferences, and purchasing stock. ink when it senses levels are low or coffee machines that purchase more pods when stock runs out. Phase two expands when smart assistants become widespread and can make knowledgeable purchasing decisions. The
the inevitability of AI shoppers becomes apparent, but what does this actually look like? Raskino and Scheibenreif describe AI-enabled customers as technology that shops for us and will overtake the decision-making process when purchasing products or services. In this surprising book, the writers describe three phases regarding the evolution of machine customers. Currently, we’re at “base zero,” where tech can inform us when an inventory of a specific product is low. We can see early- AI customers in companies like Amazon, where Alexa can purchase an item or its Dash Smart Shelf can sense when an item needs to be replenished and reorders for you. So, what are phases one, two, and three? Phase one involves machines being able to purchase items for a customer, but only from a single manufacturer or product type. Some examples are printers that reorder
Rise25 Podcast Spotlight 'Quiet Light Podcast' Joe Valley and Mark Daoust Featuring: Leading M&A, e-commerce, SaaS, and marketing experts sharing their experiences buying, scaling, and exiting online businesses '15 Minutes' Adam Draper Featuring: Community leaders sharing their best- kept secrets
'The First Buck Podcast' Nicolas Cary and Bo Ghirardelli Featuring: Stories and insights from successful entrepreneurs and business leaders discussing when they made their first buck 'Pixel Retentive Podcast' Carl Cleanthes and Ross Ciuppa Featuring: Artists and business owners discussing the art of business and the business of art 'Remotely Cultured' Jeanna Barrett Featuring: Entrepreneurs, marketing leaders, and global remote executives discussing remote work culture
'The Digital Deep Dive' Aaron Conant
Featuring: eCommerce and business leaders tackling the newest trends and strategies shaping growth across the digital space
Do you agree with any of these theories?
Go subscribe on iTunes!
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Inside This Edition
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You Can Be a Thought Leader Too! Are Your Employees Staying Educated?
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Get Ready for AI Customers Can You Solve This 18th- Century Cipher? How to Revive a Failing Marketing Strategy
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HERE’S HOW YOU CAN BRING IT BACK TO LIFE MARKETING STRATEGY NOT GOING AS PLANNED?
Marketing isn’t easy, and despite spending countless hours and resources crafting a marketing strategy, it can still fall flat. The definition of a “failed” marketing campaign is undoubtedly subjective, but if you see that there’s been no significant impact and your ROI isn’t cutting it, then it’s time
return to the planning phase to differentiate your message from your competitors. Amp up the offer. Gifts, special sales, discounts, and other incentives are some of the reasons a potential customer will engage with your business, but if the offer isn’t valuable enough, they will ignore it. Whatever desired action you want your clientele to take, you need to ensure they’re receiving enough in return. Evolve and adapt! If none of these approaches
to get back to the basics. Think like a customer.
Your campaign may have seemed bulletproof initially, but if you see less than great results, it’s time to think less like a business owner and more like a customer. As a customer, consider what issues may have caused you to react negatively, or not at all, to this marketing strategy. Was the targeted audience too broad? Was the messaging not powerful enough? Consider specifying your target demographic and redirecting your message to fit that audience. Make it memorable. Thanks to social media, consumers are constantly bombarded with ads and offers from countless companies vying for their business. This means your marketing may have gotten lost in the noise by failing to stand out and grab someone’s attention. So, check if your campaign is similar to others that launched around the same time. You may need to
work for you, start fresh. Take a new route and use the new information you’ve learned after evaluating your
strategy’s results. Don’t consider this marketing
strategy a failure but a learning experience that will help you build more effective campaigns in the future. Learn from your mistakes, and you can come back stronger and better than ever!
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