Becky Robinson's Blog, page 69

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.

 

Featured on Friday: #FlyingWithout Author @ConnellLessons

The majority of our Weaving Influence team reside east of the Mississippi, and if you’ve been following the weather reports then you will know that most of us have been hit with an Arctic blast of snow and ice. Comfortable companionship was found this week as we compared snow stories.

We could easily go about our days as contractors, exchanging work-related emails and never communicating the personal details, but if we want to build the team, sharing a bit of our private lives with each other is important.

This idea of creating community online has infiltrated our client work as well. Last month I requested a meeting with Joanie Connell, author of Flying without a Helicopter, and suggested we do it “on camera” so that I could share my screen as we worked. As it turned out, it was one of the most fun work calls I’ve had.

We all laughed when I confessed my “stage fright” as they watched me type in real time, and we grew excited as we came up with ways to support and promote her book launch. Along the same lines, I love writing these Featured on Friday posts because I feel like they’re a more relaxed, personal way to introduce you to our team of contractors, authors, and buzz builders. So grab a mug of something warm and get to know today’s Feature…

Meet Joanie Connell

Joanie B. Connell, Ph.D. is the founder of Flexible Work Solutions, a consulting firm that specializes in leadership assessment, development, and retention for all levels–executives, professionals, early career, and youth. She works hand-in-hand with organizations and individuals ranging from the Fortune 100 setting to not-for-profit, government as well as a host of other industries.

Joanie (who pushed back when I called her “Dr. Connell” on our video call) also serves as a university professor. She teaches business and psychology students of all ages at the Rady School of Management at the University of California San Diego, the Marshall Goldsmith School of Management at Alliant International University, and in the Masters in Human Behavior program at National University.

Joanie earned her Ph.D. in Psychology from the University of California, Berkeley, and holds a B.A. in Engineering from Harvard University. In December 2014 she celebrated the publication of her first book, Flying Without A Helicopter: How to Prepare Young People for Work and Life – which we’ll be officially launching next week.

Connect with Joanie Online:

Visit the Flying without a Helicopter book site, follow her on Twitter, and connect on Facebook and LinkedIn.

Let’s Talk About Flying without a Helicopter

This is the first of two books that Joanie will be writing to the parents (primary audience of Flying without a Helicopter) of the Millennial generation, and to those who now find themselves in a position of managing and leading Millennials in the workplace. Certainly a timely topic as the workforce changes and parents want to help their children start off well on their journey into adulthood.

Flying without a Helicopter is scheduled for launch on February 23, and if you’ve already had an opportunity to read it, I would encourage you to leave a review on Amazon between now and Friday, February 27th. We want to see those numbers rise and to do that, we need your help!

On Tuesday, February 24th at 1 pm (ET), Joanie will be joining Becky Robinson for a FREE 1 hour webinar (registration link | learn more).

If you’d like to learn more about Flying without a Helicopter (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, order in bulk through 800ceoread, and see what others are saying about Joanie’s important book.

My favorite endorsement of the book comes from Alexandra Watkins (author of )…

“This book should be required reading for any parent who wants to ‘help’ their child in the workplace. I will be sending it to the dad who contacted me to set up an interview for his Ivy-league graduate son.”

Visit the website | Order the book | Register for the FREE webinar

You Tell Me: If you would be interested in writing a review of Flying without a Helicopter in exchange for a book – email me!

What You Might Not Know About Amazon Book Rankings, Reviews, and Stock

I spend a fair amount of time stalking my clients’ books on Amazon, checking for reviews and rankings.

We’ve now launched more than 40 books in about two and a half years.

Here are a few observations I’ve made through my endless Amazon stalking:

Everything is relative. 

This might seem evident, but it’s easily overlooked. Your book will rank higher or lower depending upon how other books are selling. If your publisher chooses categories with fewer books, your book may rank more easily in those categories, but you have to weigh that against the relevance of the categories.

Rankings update hourly. 

Your book ranking may update as often as once an hour. Books ranking higher than 10,000 on Amazon will typically change hourly. There is no reason to check more often than that!

Your categories will show up when you rank in the top 100. 

Until your book ranks in a category, it won’t show the category. The overall rank that you need to show up in a category varies depending upon what categories your book is in (again, everything is relative!) We seen some books rank in a category when the book’s overall rank is around 20,000 and other books not rank in categories when the overall rank is as high as 7,000.

You Don’t Need to Stalk Rankings — Login to Amazon Author Central Instead. 

While there is a definite thrill in watching your book rise through the ranks on Amazon, you can also see rankings in your Amazon Author Central account. Additionally, you can view Bookscan sales numbers through your Amazon Author Central account.

Early reviews matter. 

The more reviews you can gather in the early weeks after your book launches, the more you will eventually gather. People seem to want to add their reviews to often-reviewed books. And, often-reviewed books sell more copies. Typically, I tell authors that 50 reviews is the ideal number to set as a goal within a month or  two of your book’s publication. To get those early reviews, you will need to ASK. People may not think to leave them if you don’t remind them. The book we are currently supporting that has the most reviews (141) got 100 reviews very soon after its publication. In the time since its release (about 18 months), the book has sold steadily and added more reviews over time.

Amazon Stock is Unpredictable.

Have conversations with your publisher in advance of your book’s launch to find out about how many books Amazon will stock. The more information you can provide to your publisher about your publicity efforts and events, the more successful they will be in convincing Amazon to stock up on your book. Despite the most proactive planning, there will be times that Amazon will be out of stock. We recently worked with an author. Despite his best efforts and our support and focus, his book was out of stock on Amazon for his entire launch week. His publisher couldn’t provide an explanation. You’ll notice that Amazon’s stock/messaging may change frequently, with indications that your book is out of stock or will take more time to ship. This is normal, but worth talking with your publisher about to be sure they are aware and working with Amazon to restock your book.

Tell me something! What other questions do you have about Amazon stock, rankings, and reviews?

 

Sprinkled with Magic

In line for The Barnstormer, one of Disney World’s kiddie coasters, my daughters and I wondered how we would get onto the new Seven Dwarfs Mine Train ride. We missed our chance for a 20 minute wait during magic hours. We didn’t have a Fast Pass. And the ride had been closed for a few hours for maintenance.

While waiting, I started chatting up the ride attendant, who pulled us out of line and started making phone calls to find out when the ride would reopen.

Then she handed us a certificate — in effect, giving us a free Fast Pass.

We experienced a magical moment.

The next day, while shopping outside the gates of Hollywood Studios, my daughters asked the cast member to trade pins — their first trade. Instead of merely trading pin for pin, the cast member offered the girls a choice of an extra pin.

Another magical moment.

Then while my youngest daughter Maggie and I waited for the older girls as they enjoyed an attraction, a crew member who had noticed Maggie’s patience gave her a special pin.

Even other guests sprinkled our Disney experience with magic.

While waiting for a funnel cake, a man behind us in line mentioned he had free snacks to use up from his Disney meal plan. He then bought the girls and me THREE funnel cakes, which we ducked out of the drizzling rain to enjoy.

We expect magic moments at a place aptly named The Magic Kingdom. The latest book from Chip Bell posits that any company can create loyal customers by sprinkling everyday service with magical special touches.

You don’t have to be Disney to sprinkle service with unique surprises to make your customers smile.

Chip’s book is filled with stories, examples, and recommendations for innovating customer service. If you haven’t yet read it, I encourage you to order your copy today.

A sneak preview: the book is absolutely beautiful and colorful. This is one time that I’d encourage you to buy the print edition instead of Kindle. It would also make a fantastic gift for every member of your team!

 

The More Things Change

One afternoon in High School, I watched in awe as a friend connected his IBM PC Jr to a touch-tone telephone. Moments later, after a series of loud squawks and whistles, we were staring at the login for the local university’s library mainframe. That was 1982.

Then came Compuserve, BBSs, Prodigy, and finally America Online. The free AOL discs were suddenly everywhere. But just as quickly as it grew to one million users, AOL was absorbed into the larger Internet and World Wide Web.

Along came social networks. MySpace quickly eclipsed Friendster, which already left The WELL in the dust. In a few short years, Twitter and Facebook took over the world.

Now my teenage children roll their eyes at Facebook if they even acknowledge it at all. They’re connecting with friends on Instagram, Reddit, and Snapchat. Or they meet virtually in Minecraft.

Despite all of these changes, there is still a common thread running from the invention of the telephone to the connected smart phones of today.

Physical networks are enabling human ones.

And the only thing we can be certain about is change. And the pace of change is increasing exponentially.

Most importantly, the tastes of our audiences change faster than the platforms’ ability to catch up. Teenagers are leaving Facebook for Instagram. Next month a new platform may be all the rage. Someday those same teenagers will be adults and consumers and we’ll have to find them to reach them.

What does this mean for marketers today and in the future?

It’s no secret that humans are social creatures. We crave connection. We constantly invent new tools and platforms to connect ourselves to each other.

Because things change so rapidly, it’s vital for marketers to not grow complacent in one network or another. In the 90’s, companies spent millions building out communities on AOL. Look where that got them. But marketers must also stop worrying about the Next Big Thing. The only thing that’s certain is that we can’t predict what’s over the horizon.

Those two ideas may seem contradictory, and they are. But the message is clear. 

Use the tools available to you but adopt a flexible outlook.

And focus on connectivity and content instead of the platform.

If you are creating quality and compelling content, targeting the right audience, and it’s available on myriad platforms, you’ll do just fine. If you are betting the house on a Facebook strategy or Twitter strategy, you risk getting left behind.

I can state with confidence that Facebook isn’t going anywhere. But I’m certain that our audiences will move on and we will need the flexibility to meet them wherever they are.

Image by geralt-9301

Featured on Friday: Keep Jamie Rocking at Home

As far as I can remember, it started with a square of dark chocolate.

I first met Maren and Jamie Showkeir at a Berrett-Koehler event in San Francisco during the summer of 2013. In a room where many of the people had long-lasting friendships and collegial relationships, I felt like (and was!) a newbie.

But the Showkeirs, among others, welcomed me warmly. (Maren welcomed me by sharing a square of dark chocolate.)

We bonded instantly. Jamie is a graduate of Miami (OH) University, also my alma mater.

As a couple, Jamie and Maren exude warmth, openness, and genuine affection for and interest in others. Their commitment and love for each other is immediately evident. They interact with ease, respect, and grace.

We ate dinner with a group of common friends outdoors one night, laughing and sharing. I picture the two of them walking away at evening’s end, Jamie’s arm draped over Maren’s shoulder, bracing her against the chill.

After the event, I had the pleasure of working with the Showkeirs on social media strategy. We met over Skype, with Jamie and Maren on camera from their home in Phoenix, their cat wandering on and off camera. Those meetings, too, filled with laughter — in my memory, those calls are studded with sun, warmth, and true enjoyment and pleasure in working with dear friends.

Shock and deep sadness filled me when I received an email from Jamie about a year after our first meeting with the news that he had received a confirmed diagnosis of ALS. Even in that message, Jamie communicated with clarity and grace. He wrote “our life has become intensely focused, and we are determined to live with joy every day, stay present to each other, and to deal with the things we must deal with as they come in the best way that we can.”

And he wrote “Even though we haven’t known each other all that long, knowing you, working with you and having you in my life is a gift and I am grateful. You are delightful to be with and your competence is exceptional. Thanks for being a part of our journey.” Even in the midst of his most profound challenge, he took the time to lift me up.

Jamie and Maren have been a gift to me since that first meeting. It is an extreme honor to know and interact with them.

In these difficult days, as Jamie’s physical condition worsens, I am grateful for the opportunity to join with others in supporting Jamie and Maren on their journey.

Along with Jesse Stoner, Jennifer Kahnweiler, Bill Treasurer, and the Berrett-Koehler author community, we’re raising $60,000 to provide funds for care at home, not covered by insurance.

We started the campaign to ease the journey for the Showkeirs by providing needed finances.

What we’ve seen, in just two days, is that this campaign is providing so much more than that; every gift is evidence of the love and care Maren and Jamie have poured into others. Each gift represents how very deeply this community loves and cares for them.

We are grateful to be able to do something to demonstrate our concern, to show Jamie and Maren that they are not alone. We are standing with them, and though miles may separate us, they are in our hearts.

Whether you know Jamie and Maren personally or not, I invite you to be a part of the supportive community we are creating by giving to this effort (click here to visit the site). Scroll through the notes of encouragement friends have shared on our Go Fund Me page for a taste of the sweetness the Showkeirs have brought to the world.

As of 8 a.m., February 6, 2015

 

As I write this, we are close to 75% of reaching our goal of $60,000. Every $20 increment pays for an hour of care.

Our “Featured on Friday” posts always feature someone special, but today is a bit of a departure. I am sure once you read through the comments on Jamie’s site,  you will see why this was simply the only choice.

Today’s choice reciprocates the good will and generosity that began with the simple sweetness of a square of chocolate.