Business Development Gurus
 
A Chicago-area teenager became a local hero after saving a boy from drowning on Monday in Wisconsin. His reward for this self-less act? A $2000 hospital bill.

The boy, who is uninsured due to a recent move, and his story made Chicago news on Tuesday, with his family reportedly expressing their incredulity that his good deed has left them with a huge medical bill. (No good deed goes unpunished, indeed.) By Thursday, the hospital announced that it had decided to waive the $2000 bill.

Now, there is no doubt in my mind that the hospital did the right thing. Stories without happy endings are like empty milk cartons in the frig - frustrating to experience; and never more so than in a tale of kindness and selflessness such as this. However watching the news unfold, (with my business and marketing hat on) left me with questions...

 
 
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A popular trending topic on Twitter recently - #therewasatimewhen - had us pausing to think of a past that was quite different from today. While we could go on and on listing our own personal reflections of say, 80's fashion horrors (think: leg warmers, neon colors, and MC Hammer pants), we've elected to note the advances we've seen in business and technology over time. Following we present, our collection of #therewasatimewhen's...
 
 
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Today's Chicago Tribune[i] had a provocative article about doctors who are sometimes so focused on medicine that they fail to catch socio-economic issues that are contributing factors or possible complications for treatment. According to the Chicago Tribune article, actors portraying elderly men with unexplained weight loss were sent for expensive cancer testing, and doctors in 78% of the cases failed to acknowledge or question his disheveled appearance and other cues that he was homeless. The article reminded me of a conversation I had with clients yesterday, about managing successful sales meetings and discovery sessions...

 
 
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YouTube - it's not just for goofballs anymore. Like Facebook, it has crossed into the business and marketing world, which for some (those naturally creative-types) is enormously exciting and for others (those that are not) is downright daunting. On the plus side, it opens a whole new marketing arena where anything you do is fresh and exciting; and on the flip side, it opens a whole new marketing arena... sigh.

As a marketer, I often think of a line from the movie The Shawshank Redemption, in which a man, released from prison in the 1950's after 40 years, observes, "I can't believe how fast things move on the outside... The world went and got itself in a big darn hurry."

It often seems like just when we are rockin' and rollin' with today's "best" marketing tactics, something new comes along that throws a rock into our roll. As marketing dynamics continue to evolve with the growth of technology, smart businesses are having to explore more innovative ways to connect with their target audiences. Social media networking, while still popular, is beginning to seem "so last season". What's next? From the buzz they are generating, it seems that the next hottest marketing tools on the horizon are QR-codes (which was last week's blog) and the ever-popular, YouTube.

Today, I am going to share some ways you can use YouTube in your marketing to engage your target audience, and I'll give you some tips on creating a strong title...

 
 
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There's a new(er) kid on the block in the world of marketing - the QR (quick response) code.The QR code is a small square barcode that many smartphone cameras can scan to reveal videos, coupons, text, music and more. Its purpose is in its name - to encourage a quick response from the people receiving it. QR codes originated in Japan, where they have become increasingly popular over the last few years, and where now all mobile phones sold contain QR code reader software. Large U.S. companies such as Pepsi, Coca Cola, and McDonald's have been using QR codes overseas to offer discounts and freebies, and with great success.

Not surprisingly, the cutting-edge television network, HBO recently decided to give the QR code a whirl. In May, the network-giant cleverly embedded a QR code in a "True Blood" commercial that allowed scanners to access an exclusive preview of its Season 3 hit. This in itself is smart, but placing the commercial during the series finale of "Lost" (in select locations) was ingenius. It became a puzzle in a puzzle. Arguably, you had to have recorded the show to pause and capture the code, and a lot of people are still unaware of the exisence of QR codes, but kudos to HBO for possibly kicking off the U.S. craze.

So as a growing number of U.S. companies begin to consider this new marketing trend, the question becomes what are some quick and easy ways you can successfully incorporate QR codes into your marketing plans? For starters, you can...
 
 
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Have you ever driven to a new destination? How did you find your way? If you're like me, you took the "old-school" approach and printed directions from Mapquest; or perhaps, as a modern thinker, you know "there's an app for that" or at least a GPS device. The point is, in order to successfully and efficiently get from point A to point B, you needed a road map of some sort.

In business, owners often need to focus on the urgencies right in front of them, which in basic survival mode means bringing in money to pay the staff and vendors, and hopefully, a bit extra for a hotdog. They can forget to examine (and re-examine) the bigger business picture...
 
 
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Late breaking news for business owners everywhere! Summer business burnout has been spotted. Be on the look out for gloriously sunny days, the "itch" to play golf or lay at the beach, vacation "fever", and other summertime blues. Trust us, you'll know it when you feel it. Haven't we all have at some point? For most companies, the summer months tend to be slower. Now is the time to re-examine your business and overcome your business challenges. At BDG, we focus on the 'Ten Essentials of Business Success' to help us keep our business growing and find more time to indulge in summer's various "uncomforts". Want to know more?

Sign up today to receive our 'Ten Essentials of Business Success' white paper, available on July 12, 2010. (And because we appreciate your patience, you will receive a free marketing white paper immediately after signing up!)

In the meantime, how do you stay focused on your company when the (golf course) "greens" have you feeling the "blues"?

 
 
Business Development Gurus is excited to announce that they will be exhibiting their services at the Insights Sage Partner Trade Show in Denver, CO on May 17-20, 2010.

BDG co-founders and gurus, Kristi Smith and Jim Rosas will be meeting with business owners to discuss the many challenges presented by the hard work of running a business. BDG recognizes that providing client services and managing employees can take more hours than there are in a day. Business owners sacrifice strategic business development planning and important organizational projects (not to mention meals, sleep and vacation) to serve client needs first. At the Sage Partner Trade Show, BDG will be available to meet with business owners to talk about their opportunities to organize for success.
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BDG integrates mentoring, co-operative implementation and ongoing accountability to achieve business success. At the BDG Trade Show booth, the BDG consultants will help business owners see how different approaches to their usual problems will help them trade their business worries for business wisdom. Attendees will also have the opportunity to win prizes at the Business Development Gurus Prize Wheel.

Kristi Smith will be speaking at the event with Sage's own Alex Taylor to share her approach to running successful "Sneak Peek" events for Sage's ACT! software. Kristi will share how her unique approach to event planning and marketing led to an increase in sales, clients, and credibility in the ACT! community.

Contact us for more information on how BDG can help your business reach its peak.
 
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Photo used under Creative Commons from Unhindered by Talent