It’s a proven fact, today, that social media marketing has become one of the most important marketing tools influencing buying habits, company/brand visibility, and the size of the client/customer universe.

This news is NOT NEW! For larger companies, social media marketing has been aggressively pursued for years – ever since Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and LinkedIn came into being.

WHO IS EFFECTIVELY USING SOCIAL MEDIA AS A MARKETING TOOL?

Failure to use ISO Certified advisory professionals can mean a serious reduction in your company’s competiveness – domestically and offshore

Effective April 1, 2010, all CMC’s (Certified Management Consultants) certified by the Institute of Management Consultants (Washington, DC) AND by the International Organization for Standardization (Geneva, Switzerland).

How might this impact a US company’s competitiveness.

Today US as well as foreign companies seeking business in the European Community (EC) are expected to be ISO certified. From ISO9000 to the broad spectrum of other Standardizations, the necessity for becoming “certified” becomes critical if(?) a company wishes to do business with any company that sells to European governments.

Why is it critical? The EC through the ISO has tried to standardize all company organizational, operational and professional standards so that they conform to the highest possible level of competency. They do not demand that companies adhere. NO – they make it almost impossible for companies “not to”!!!!!!

Whether you have a wonderful business idea – or – you are investigating business opportunities for yourself or a client, it is critical that you put each idea through a “reality check” – an analysis to determine if they are truly valid and worthy of further effort. All of your ideas must have a demonstrated need, ready market, and ability to provide a solid return on investment.

Is the idea feasible in the marketplace? Is there demand? Can it be done? Are you able to pull together the persons and resources to pull it off before the window of opportunity closes? These questions must be considered and answered.

One man’s trash is another man’s treasure – what you get out of a Convention or Conference depends on what you actually do with all of that training and the info in that ‘wonderful plastic bag’

If I’ve heard this once, I’ve heard it a hundred times, “My salespeople are great – they don’t really need to be managed”. These executives or entrepreneurs believe that a “self-managed” salesperson does better on their own without any management involvement. Are they right or are they putting their company at risk. Are they making their company vulnerable? The answer is YES – they’re sticking their neck way-WAY out and waiting for it to be cut off.

Why? Because companies that do not manage their salesforce are companies that who put their company at risk. At risk of what? Well how about:

• Loss of business opportunity – unmanaged salespeople only rarely “suggestive sell” – making their employer vulnerable to competition and lower than acceptable levels of account penetration.
• Risk of competition getting into their account – stealing it from them without their even knowing it. This is especially likely with small to medium size accounts – those who rarely, if ever, see their account rep.
• The Communication gap – today’s savvy companies strive to maintain a strong communications link with their customers.
  
  
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