Improving the Content on your Website

5 key questions any website or product page should answer:

Why me? (Why should they lis ten to you?)
Why you? (Who is per fect for this offer?)
Why this? (Why is this prod uct per fect for them?)
Why this price? (Why is this offer so valuable?)
Why now? (Why must they not wait?)

These are crucial! If your website is getting traffic but lacking conversion make sure your content/product pages address these 5 questions.

in reference to: http://www.michelfortin.com/the-seven-deadly-sins-of-website-copy/ (view on Google Sidewiki)

Diamonds in the Data Mine - HBR

This great article reinforces the importance of real customer service - the experience they have with your business, product, or service.

For my clients: Understanding present customer value and lifetime customer value could lead to lower marketing costs and higher conversion and customer loyalty. This is achieved by running reports and mining customer activity data in their systems. Then use the knowledge gained from this data to correctly communicate, market, and initiate action in their customers. If done correctly it should surely lead to positive results.

For me: This article reminds one that a working relationship that functions over the phone and internet is similar to one that functions face to face. Attention, genuine interest, clarity, and consistency are vital to truly providing great customer service. One must find a way to create a unique working relationship with their clients that eludes the highest level of respect and confidence in them and their business. This should ensure the customer loyalty and trust that they are working with the right person and business.

in reference to: http://hbr.org/2003/05/diamonds-in-the-data-mine/ar/pr (view on Google Sidewiki)

Storytelling That Moves People

Good article about the impact storytelling has in business and personal life. A couple good quotes: "A story expresses how and why life changes. It begins with a situation in which life is relatively in balance."
"A good storyteller describes what it’s like to deal with these opposing forces, calling on the protagonist to dig deeper, work with scarce resources, make difficult decisions, take action despite risks, and ultimately discover the truth."
"All great storytellers since the dawn of time—from the ancient Greeks through Shakespeare and up to the present day—have dealt with this fundamental conflict between subjective expectation and cruel reality."

in reference to: http://hbr.org/2003/06/storytelling-that-moves-people/ar/pr (view on Google Sidewiki)

Teaching Smart People How To Learn

Great advice for adjusting the way we learn and think. Helpful for improving emotional intelligence and addressing problems.

Remember to focus on being in the "double loop" when taking feedback or addressing critical questions.

in reference to: http://hbr.org/1991/05/teaching-smart-people-how-to-learn/ar/pr (view on Google Sidewiki)

Major Sales: Who Really Does the Buying?

Some key questions and notes from this article -

Who makes up the buying group?

How will the parties interact?

Who will dominate and who submit?

What priorities do the individuals have?

Who’s in the Buying Center?

"The key to improved selling effectiveness is in observation and investigation to understand prospects’ corporate power culture."

"Sales-call planning is not only a matter of minimizing miles traveled or courtesy calls on unimportant prospects but of determining what intelligence is needed about key buyers and what questions or requests are likely to produce that information."

Make sure you take the time to give this a thorough read. The reminders given here are very important.

in reference to: http://hbr.org/2006/07/major-sales/ar/pr (view on Google Sidewiki)

A Story About Motivation

This article addresses the inner meanings of what motivates people, great read

in reference to: http://blogs.hbr.org/bregman/2010/02/a-story-about-motivation.html (view on Google Sidewiki)

How To Become A Great Storyteller

These four truths provide insight into great storytelling.

in reference to: http://hbr.org/2007/12/the-four-truths-of-the-storyteller/ar/pr (view on Google Sidewiki)

Comprehensive Millennial Case Study

Very detailed demographic data on Generation Y/Millennials

in reference to: http://www.dmwdirect.com/pdfs/millennials.pdf (view on Google Sidewiki)

Seven Transformations of Leadership

Which one of seven developmental action logics leaders are you—Opportunist, Diplomat, Expert, Achiever, Individualist, Strategist, or Alchemist

in reference to: http://hbr.org/2005/04/seven-transformations-of-leadership/ar/pr (view on Google Sidewiki)

Behave Yourself

Before you get into any conflict, take a deep breath and ask yourself, ‘Is it worth it? What do I have to gain by winning? What do I have to lose?

in reference to: http://hbr.org/2002/10/behave-yourself/ar/1 (view on Google Sidewiki)

Execution-as-Learning: Four Steps

Helpful information about improving Organization knowledge and processes.

in reference to: http://hbr.org/2008/07/the-competitive-imperative-of-learning/ar/4 (view on Google Sidewiki)