Becky Robinson's Blog, page 68

Featured on Friday: #ChessNotCheckers Author Mark Miller @LeadersServe

Today’s featured author is no stranger to the Weaving Influence blog. We’ve talked about the lessons from his books, his impact on our team, and his rather unique gift giving skills.

In August I wrote a post about him (and his co-author, Ken Blanchard) as we prepared for the launch of The Secret: 10th Anniversary Edition. Eight months later it’s time to introduce him (again) as we get ready to support his NEW book, Chess Not Checkers.

Meet Mark Miller (Again!)

Mark began working as an hourly team member with Chick-fil-A in 1977. Since making the transition to the corporate level in 1978, he has provided leadership for Corporate Communications, Field Operations, Quality and Customer Satisfaction, Training and Development, and Organizational Effectiveness. Today he serves as the Vice President for Leadership Development.

When he’s not busy “selling chicken” as he likes to say, Mark is best-selling author and communicator. Over the years, he’s traveled extensively around the world, teaching for numerous international organizations. As a photographer, he enjoys taking pictures in some of the world’s hardest-to-reach places, including Mount Kilimanjaro, Everest Base Camp and the jungles of Rwanda.

When he’s not working with Chick-fil-A, writing books, or spending time with his family, you can find him blogging on his website, Great Leaders Serve.

Connect with Mark Online

There are plenty of ways to keep up with Mark, including: Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Google+, and his Great Leaders Serve Website

Support the Launch of Chess Not Checkers – April 6-10!

Coming up in about a week, we’re inviting you to join with us as we help Mark celebrate the launch of his fifth book, Chess Not Checkers. Get involved by telling your online communities about it using the resources found HERE.

One thing you won’t want to miss is our EXCLUSIVE webinar with Mark, hosted by Becky Robinson.  Put a hold on your calendars for April 6 at 12 pm (ET), and register today! As with all of our webinars, it’s completely free to join, so bring a friend to this 45-minute Q & A session with a much sought after speaker and teacher. 

Don’t forget to check out book’s NEW website, and start spreading the word as we get ready for the launch. Ready to up your leadership game? Start by reading Chess Not Checkers and the join us for an exciting launch, starting April 6!

You Tell Me! What’s your favorite book by Mark Miller?

RIDE or HALT? Choices on “Communication Road”

One of the most useful things I ever did was to volunteer as a counselor on a telephone crisis hotline. I thought I was there to help others. It turns out that I was the one who gained the most. That experience impacts the way I converse with friends (and strangers) who tell me their problems.

Having been a crisis counselor, and having been trained on the RIDE model, influences the way I conduct myself on social media too.

Let’s start with the RIDE model.

R is for Relationship

The very first component of an interaction with someone in crisis is establishing a relationship. Especially in a phone conversation, the two of you can’t see one another and can’t read each other’s non-verbals, so it is even more important to establish rapport and trust.

I is for Identify the Problem

Any time you have entered into a conversation with someone when there is an expectation on their part that you are going to help them, it is helpful to cut through some of the “noise” to determine what is the most pressing issue. Often, what the person says is their problem is more of a symptom.

D is for Deal with Feelings

It is so tempting to skip this step. People who have chosen to volunteer as counselors often do so because they want to fix things. Allowing someone to express their feelings, to let out their sadness, or to vent their anger, is a critical part of the process.

E is for Explore Alternatives

You have a rapport with each other, you have a sense of the primary problem, and your caller has been able to express their feelings and let off some steam. Once that has all been done, it is time to explore alternatives. With someone in crisis, it is often true that they see alternatives that they were blind to once they have done steps one, two, and three. Perspective is a good thing.

Social media didn’t exist when I was a crisis counselor. People had relationships either in person, on the phone, or by letter. Now that we have so many electronic ways to get to know one another, our interactions are in jeopardy of coming to a grinding HALT when they could RIDE together instead:

H is for Hesitant to Engage

I am a social media nut but I know that it is easy to let quick social media interactions replace the hard work involved in really establishing relationships with people. A “we should have lunch” that never quite  happens, a text or phone call to say “you sounded frustrated in that last status update,” an old-fashioned conversation can make someone’s day.

A is for Avoidance

It takes mental energy to focus on what someone is really saying. 140 characters in a tweet only scratches the surface. A Facebook status is someone’s “best face.” Don’t people in our lives deserve our undivided attention for at least a few minutes?

L is for Losing Interest

I frankly get a little tired of the frequent (and, admittedly, humorous as well as true) references on social media to how quickly we switch gears to the next shiny thing (have you seen a reference to “Squirrel!” at least once this week?). Relationships are about sharing the excitement of the novel as well as the monotony of the mundane. Stay on task. You would want someone to do that for you, wouldn’t you?

T is for Telling Instead of Asking

As a parent, I fastidiously avoid telling my children what to do (on the premise that when the idea goes south it will be my fault). Adults shouldn’t do that either — people have a better chance of succeeding at resolving their problems if it was their idea in the first place. It’s the skillful and caring friend who takes the time to help them navigate their way toward their own resolution.

Where will your road take you? Will you go for a RIDE or screech to a HALT?

 

Photo Credits: WWW image, RIDE image

How To Get Greater Traction for Your Book

Thousands of business books are published each year, and few find an audience outside an author’s already existing community of colleagues and friends.

We are constantly looking for ways to help our clients’ books create the biggest impact possible by first mobilizing our clients’ existing networks, next mobilizing the networks of readers we’ve established, and then reaching out through social and digital media to create the biggest impact possible.

We know a book has traction when two things happen:

People are inspired to share the book and its content with their online communities, helping increase its reach.
People engage with our authors to access resources beyond the book.

One of the questions I’m asked most often is this one: how do you measure success? How do you quantify an ever expanding audience?

The most basic and reliable measure is the size of an author’s email subscriber list. Authors who have a large email list of subscribers interested in their content have a larger pool of people to whom they are becoming a valuable resource. The size of their list often determines the success of their launch. A larger list equals more book sales during launch week, more Amazon reviews posted, and more social sharing and reach of a book.

For this reason, we constantly seek ways to help our clients attract people to join their email lists.

One of the most powerful ways we’ve found is through the Credspark Quiz.

In late 2013, Weaving Influence partnered with CredSpark for help in publishing quizzes based on the topics of our authors’ books. Several Weaving Influence clients and friends, including Karin Hurt, Chip Bell, Dennis and Michelle Reina and Jamie and Maren Showkier published quizzes on CredSpark in 2014.

Here’s a recent and powerful case study:

Next week, we’ll launch Bonnie Marcus’ book, The Politics of Promotion. As part of our book launch services, we partnered with CredSpark to help Bonnie quiz her audience on what they knew (or didn’t) about the challenges of women being promoted. Here are some key insights that Bonnie gathered, by running a quiz.

• Bonnie’s audience has a good grasp on the differences between male and female networking behavior, as well as on the most effective practices around promoting one’s achievements.

• On the other hand, her audience has a poor grasp of the notion of Sponsorship (as distinct from Mentorship) and how it can advance womens’ career goals.

• Bonnie’s audience is 83% female, and 66% mid-level management or above.

• The Best Finding? 57% of people opted-in to Bonnie’s mailing list as a result of taking the quiz. Bonnie’s quiz engaged people deeply on her topic, and made people realize they could benefit from Bonnie’s guidance on an ongoing basis.

These statistic are powerful evidence that Credspark challenges drive our most important metric: opt-ins to an author’s mailing list.

With Bonnie’s expanded network, we created additional traction for her upcoming book launch.

We’d love to partner with you toward greater impact by driving growth of the metrics that matter most to you. How can we and our friends at CredSpark help you? Email me today to start the conversation!

Featured on Friday: #PoliticsOfPromotion Author Bonnie Marcus @selfpromote

Another week, another book launch for the Weaving Influence team. Today’s the final day of the official launch week for new author, Stacy Feiner. The longer I work in the book promotion world, the more I understand the power of word of mouth AND word of mouse.

One of the easiest (FREE) ways to support an author – whether it’s their first book or their 21st book – is to leave a review on Amazon. If you’ve been a part of any of our launches this year and haven’t left a review yet for one or all of them, it’s never too late!

While you’re at Amazon leaving all those reviews, don’t forget to pick up a copy of the new book from today’s author…

Meet Bonnie Marcus

Award-winning entrepreneur and Forbes and Business Insider contributing writer Bonnie Marcus, M.Ed., has real conversations for real women in the workplace today. The President of Women’s Success Coaching, she assists women to navigate the workplace and advance their careers.

With 20+ years of sales and management experience, Bonnie’s background includes CEO and VP of Sales at three national companies. She has held executive positions in both start-up and Fortune 500 companies s.

Bonnie started her career at an entry level position and worked up to the top of a national company using her savvy promotion and relational skills. Her passion is to help other women learn to be sensitive to the culture of their organizations, embrace the politics, and actively move their careers forward.

She is also the author of The Politics of Promotion: How High-Achieving Women Get Ahead and Stay Ahead (launching March 23 – 27).

Connect with Bonnie Online:

Visit The Politics of Promotion book site, follow her on Twitter, connect on Facebook and LinkedIn, and visit her YouTube channel.

Learn More About The Politics of Promotion

The Politics of Promotion offers women the tools and guidance they need to successfully navigate the realities of their organizations, emphasizing the need to understand office politics to get the promotions and recognition they deserve.

The Politics of Promotion is officially launching on March 23 . Find it on Amazon, or download to your Kindle or Kindle reading app.

If you’re a part of the launch team who received a preview copy, reviews can be added NOW on Amazon and Goodreads, or after March 23rd on Barnes & Noble.

On Thursday, March 26th at 1 pm (ET), Bonnie will be joining Becky Robinson for a FREE, 1 hour webinar. Bonnie will be sharing tools and ideas to help you overcome the obstacles that are standing in the way of reaching your career goals. It sounds like a great event, so sign up today! (registration link | learn more).

If you’d like to learn more about The Politics of Promotion (or find resources to share with your online communities), you should bookmark the book’s website where you can download a sample chapter, grab promotional graphics to share online, and find a link for savings on bulk orders.

Visit the website | Order the Book | Register for the FREE webinar | Buy in Bulk

You Tell Me:  Have you dealt with politics in the workplace? What’s your best tip for young professionals who have hit a hidden ceiling?

3 Tools to Help You Work Smarter and Faster

Anyone who works with their hands—chefs, carpenters, artists—will tell you that having the right tools for the right job is a critical factor in the quality of their work. It’s the same for those of us in content marketing. Yes, it’s important to have great ideas, but if clunky methods or outdated delivery systems keep your message from being seen in a timely manner, those great ideas don’t have a chance.

Here at Weaving Influence, we are constantly on the lookout for better tools to help us do our work more efficiently and at a higher-level. We always want to improve and we’re sure you do, too.

That’s why we’ve gathered a list of our 3 current favorites. These are the tools helping us work smarter for our clients right now.

Buffer for Social Scheduling

We’ve tried a lot of different programs to schedule content across channels, and Buffer best meets our needs and our clients’ needs. Buffer allows us to schedule on Twitter, LinkedIn and Google+ from one dashboard.  We can upload original and curated content, Buffer-curated content, and our favorite—we can schedule retweets! The option to schedule retweets helps us keep our clients’ newsfeeds interesting and active without overwhelming followers. This feature alone is worth the price of admission! Of course, Buffer has a free service available if you want to use it for your personal social maintenance, and a professional service that allows you to manage multiple accounts. The only drawbacks—Facebook posting isn’t fully functional yet, and we would love the option to share more than one photo per post.  Those are small complaints. Plus, Buffer is such a responsive company, we’re sure those features will be available soon.

Infusionsoft and MailChimp for Email

We’ve been fans of MailChimp for some time. The service has a lot of functionality. It’s dependable and more intuitive than other programs we’ve tried. We use it to set up RSS feeds and send regular email updates. It has both free and paid options. As much as we love MailChimp, we’ve started using an additional email program because we need more functionality. We’ve recently turned to Infusionsoft for auto-responders and more list management options. This service is pricey and not as intuitive as MailChimp, however once you master the learning curve, Infusionsoft can really deliver.

ReciteThis and Canva for Images

We are fortunate to work with some truly gifted graphic designers, but they aren’t available for all of our social posting. Sometimes we need to create an image on the fly.  That’s when we turn to ReciteThis or Canva.  ReciteThis couldn’t be easier and it takes just minutes. There are about a dozen or more backgrounds. You just copy and paste in your quote and select a background. That’s it. You have a beautiful quote image that will help increase reach and engagement on your posts. If you want to get a little more sophisticated, take that quote and head over to PixlrExpress and give it some special effects.  Canva is also a great option to create original images. It has some templates you can use to make your photos really come to life with text. Canva takes more time and effort but the results are totally Pin-worthy!

These are just a few of tools we love.

What helps you work smarter? We would love to hear your favorites.

 

 

Featured on Friday: #DareToServe Author @CABachelder

I live south of the Mason-Dixon line, and up in the mountains, which means that by the time March rolls around it’s anybody’s guess what the weather is going to be like from one day to the next.

Last week I was sledding in 8″ of snow (yes, I embraced my inner child), and on Wednesday of this week it was 70 degrees and my windows were open.

Today it’s back to cold and rainy slush – which is the perfect time to grab a blanket and start reading my preview copy of the new book by today’s featured author…

Meet Cheryl Bachelder

Cheryl Bachelder has served as CEO of Popeyes® Louisiana Kitchen, Inc. since 2007. Ms. Bachelder has led a remarkable turnaround of the company’s financial results with a compelling strategic roadmap for growth and an inspiring purpose and set of principles.

With more than 35 years of experience in brand building, operations and public-company management, Cheryl has worked at companies like Yum Brands, Domino’s Pizza, RJR Nabisco, The Gillette Company and The Procter & Gamble Company [so yes, she really does know what she’s talking about in her new book!].

Cheryl holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration and a Masters of Business Administration in Finance and Marketing from the Kelley School of Business at Indiana University. She is also the author of Dare to Serve: How to Drive Superior Results By Serving Others (launching March 16 – 20).

Connect with Cheryl Online:

Visit the Dare to Serve book site, follow her on Twitter, and connect on Facebook and LinkedIn.

Let’s Talk About Dare to Serve

Dare to Serve shows that servant leadership is challenging and tough minded—a daring path.  Cheryl takes you firsthand through the transformation of Popeyes® and shows how a leader at any level can become a Dare-To-Serve leader.

Dare to Serve is scheduled to be released on March 16 and is currently available for pre-order on Amazon and for pre-order as a Kindle download.

If you’ve already received a copy to review, don’t forget to leave a review on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, or Goodreads during the launch week (March 16 – 20).

On Monday, March 23rd at 12 pm (ET), Cheryl will be joining Becky Robinson for an exclusive (and FREE) 1 hour webinar (registration link | learn more).

If you’d like to learn more about Dare to Serve (or find resources to share with your online communities), you should bookmark the book’s website where you can download a sample chapter, grab promotional graphics to share online, and find ways to buy copies of the book in bulk.

Visit the website | Pre-Order the Book | Register for the FREE webinar

You Tell Me: What’s the weather like where you live? And what book are you currently reading?

Google+ is Going Away…Kind Of

Google+ as a social channel is going away…kind of. Google has announced it’s reorganizing the channel and it’s about to undergo a dramatic change. For most people, this news is a ‘who cares’ announcement because so few people use the social channel. It just never caught on. For social media marketers, it’s time to celebrate. We developed strategies and content for a channel that just didn’t deliver. I don’t want to speak for every marketer out there, but I for one, am happy to bid Google+ ‘farewell.’

Google won’t say how Google+ will morph or what the timeline is, but Google-watchers predict a new future for Google + photos and Google hangouts, both features that did catch on while the social channel floundered. Google+ photos is a dynamic way to store, edit and share photos. That feature will likely expand. In fact, Bradley Horowitz has been put in charge of Google photos and streams projects. Watch for potentially exciting new announcements on that front. Google Hangouts have become a resource for television news stations. Podcasters, virtual companies and more. The Hangout will likely continue and grow, too. Worth keeping an eye on.

For brands, companies, and other businesses who did their best to get some traction on the Google+ social channel—it might be premature for you to say ‘so long’ just yet. Google still uses the platform in SEO, so having a strong brand description and images can have value. There is probably no value in creating custom content for this channel and you may only want to keep posting here if it’s quick, easy and painless. Otherwise, focus your efforts on social channels that will pay you back in increased exposure, brand loyalty and advocacy. More and more, that’s becoming Twitter, LinkedIn and Instagram.

Social media is constantly changing. That’s what’s so energizing about it. We learned a lot from Google+ and hopefully Google did, too. I’m excited to see the new incarnation of Google’s social products. Who knows, this time next year, Google Photos might be the new Instagram. The one thing that’s certain- Google has more tricks up its sleeve.

Tell me something! Have you used Google+? How do you feel about the changes coming?

Why I Love Book Giveaways (especially Goodreads)

I credit Mark Miller with showing me the value of giving away books. In the time that we’ve been supporting Mark’s work online, we have given away thousands of books. As he has crossed the country speaking, he has given away thousands more.

Some people might worry that generosity in giving books away would undercut sales.

In fact, the opposite is true; Mark’s books consistently sell. Giveaways of his new books seem to fuel sales of his backlist.

As Mark would say, books are seeds. As you sow generously, you will reap (in sales) generously.

I consistently recommend giving away as many books as possible as a key strategy in any book launch campaign. Typically, we start with giveaways to an author’s colleagues and influential friends. We also set up Goodreads giveaways for every campaign.

Here’s why:

Goodreads giveaways build awareness of and interest in a new title. When you set up a Goodreads giveaways, you make potential readers aware of your book. As people enter the giveaway, they have an option of adding your book to their bookshelf of “to read” books. This action makes your book memorable to them and serves as a reminder to people to buy a book in the event that they don’t win a giveaway.

Goodreads giveaways result in Goodreads reviews. Readers love Goodreads. We are beginning to see that our giveaways inspire people to review the books they receive. Here is a recent review from Goodreads of Chip Bell’s latest book. Here is one of Joanie Connell’s book. Word of mouth recommendations like these are powerful!

Goodreads reviews extend your ability to reach new networks. When we work with authors, we are reaching our network of bloggers and influencers, a value-add for authors looking to expand their influence. We are also reaching their sphere of influence and network of connections. With a Goodreads giveaway, we are reaching people who are typically outside of our normal reach; when those readers write reviews, we are also reaching their networks.

Setting up a Goodreads giveaway is fast and easy. Setting up a Goodreads giveaway takes only a minutes but can have tremendous return. The bigger investment is in the books and shipping. While Goodreads recommends a minimum of ten books with a lead time of 1-2 months, I recommend giving away more to inspire more people to enter, share, and find out about your book.

Tell me something! Have you tried a Goodreads giveaway? What results did you see? Do you agree with my instinct to give away as many books as possible? Why or why not?

Featured on Friday: #TalentMindset Author @StacyFeiner

At this point in the new year, we are well into our season of book launches. We’ve covered Refire! Don’t Retire, The Hidden Leader, Sprinkles, and we’re coming to the end of the launch week for Flying without a Helicopter. Four launches in the last four weeks… as you might imagine, our team is ready for the weekend.

We’ll get a week to gear up again before the next set of launch weeks hit: Talent Mindset, Dare to Serve, and The Politics of Promotion – and that’s just March. In April we’ll be hitting the ground running with Chess Not Checkers (the new book from Mark Miller), and Wind In Your Sails (by first time author – but long time TBB supporter – David Greer).

I’ve heard from some of our regular Team Buzz Builders that they might not be able to get  books read in time, or they might be late with a review on their blog or on Amazon. What I’ve told them – and what I would share with you – is that authors love reviews and promotion, whether it’s launch week or not. Write the post, leave the review, and send me the link so we can share it — no matter what week it is!

Speaking of weeks though, it’s time to introduce you to the next author up on our book launch calendar…

Meet Stacy Feiner

Dr. Feiner is an executive coach for the middle market. She brings psychological strategies to business owners, helping them improve their performance, advance their organizations, and achieve the success they want and deserve.

Stacy addresses complex dynamics within owner-operated companies, family businesses, management teams and boards. Her methodology solves people problems, clearing the way for driving strategy, growing profitability, and eventually transitioning to the next generation.

She earned her doctorate in clinical psychology from the Illinois School for Professional Psychology, MS from Northeastern University, and BA from Hobart & William Smith Colleges. Stacy is a licensed psychologist, executive coach, national speaker, and author of the new book, Talent Mindset.

Connect with Stacy Online:

Visit the Talent Mindset book site, follow her on Twitter, and connect on Facebook and LinkedIn.

Let’s Talk About Talent Mindset

“If your organization lacks a viable talent pipeline, it’s simply not equipped to compete in today’s dynamic economy. Feiner gives you an entire platform that will forever change the way you assess your talent inventory, determine what’s missing, and fill those spaces with A performers. Excellent!”

– Marshall Goldsmith, bestselling author of What Got You Here Won’t Get You There, and Mojo

Talent Mindset is scheduled for launch on March 9 and is currently available on Amazon (through Stacy’s online storefront) and for immediate Kindle download.

If you’ve already received a copy to review, please feel free to leave your review any time between now and the launch week (remember what I said earlier!).

On Tuesday, March 10th at 1 pm (ET), Stacy will be joining Becky Robinson for a FREE 1 hour webinar (registration link | learn more).

If you’d like to learn more about Talent Mindset (or find resources to share with your online communities), I invite you to visit the book’s website where you can download a sample chapter, grab promotional graphics to share online, and see what others are saying about Stacy’s book.

Visit the website | Paperback or Kindle | Register for the FREE webinar

You Tell Me: If you would be interested in writing a review of Talent Mindset in exchange for a book – email me!

How to Succeed as a Millennial

These days, you can’t open a magazine or browse the web without seeing a litany of articles and headlines proclaiming the vices of the millennial generation. They’re too self-important. They’re lazy. They’re glued to their screens. They’re not responsible. Today’s young people and their habits are a frequent topic of discussion, debate, and often disappointment amongst those older and wiser.

But… I have a confession to make. I am one of these notorious millennials with big dreams and wifi-enabled devices seemingly fused to my hands.

As millennials, we face a unique set of challenges in the workplace – both in terms of our own shortcomings and other’s preconceived judgments. However, this should never be an excuse to step down, settle, or coast by in your career.

I am grateful to be a part of a team that trusts me and empowers me to do significant, amazing work, and, thanks to them, I have picked up some wisdom on how to succeed early on in your career as a millennial.

1. Reevaluate your perspective

Sure, you feel like you know a lot. You have a degree or two under your belt, maybe an impressive job or internship to boot. But, guess what? You really don’t know that much. You’re young and, for the most part, inexperienced. Consider it an honor to work with people willing to share their perspective and experience with you. Learn from them. Allow yourself to see projects and goals from their perspective and you will grow tremendously.

2. Speak up and take ownership

Be bold. You may feel like the new kid on the block, but you probably have fresh ideas and angles that could greatly benefit your team. Don’t just clock in and clock out. Invest in your workplace by bringing your all and making your voice known. Take pride in your work.

3. Ask Questions

Chances are, you are going to run across a lot of things that are unfamiliar to you. Questions don’t necessarily reveal weakness or incompetence. Often, they reveal your commitment to quality work and doing the job right.

4. Challenge yourself

Try to seek out new opportunities within your workplace. Volunteer for the project that scares you. Your first few jobs are the best opportunities to to grow and set yourself above your peers. Each month, find a new ambition within your company.. .maybe it’s a task you want to accomplish, a coworker you want to work with, or an initiative you want to spearhead. Ambition shouldn’t stop when you land the job.

In all, remain humble and know that you have much to learn but don’t discredit yourself or your potential. Stretch yourself, work hard, and don’t take yourself too seriously.

For parents, educators, and managers looking to equip young people to successfully tackle their first jobs, check out Dr. Joanie Connell’s excellent, timely new book Flying without a Helicopter: How to Prepare Young People for Work and Life.