I remember when I was growing up seeing a popular commercial for Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups. The commercial would usually consist of two people walking along the sides of a tall building and bumping into each other. One people would be eating peanut butter out of a jar and the other one would have a candy bar in his or her hand. Upon collision peanut butter and chocolate would combine and inspire the great taste of chocolate and peanut butter and thus, abet in a mythological way, the Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup candy was born.

It’ has often been said the innovation most often occurs in course of collisions. Maybe not the kind where two people or vehicles literally collide but rather when we encounter new people at events, try out new products or discover that a current “solution” we are trying out does not quite meet our needs and we try to figure out a way to better match the job we need to do. Other times some things just happen like the “invention” of the potato chip or vulcanized rubber. The point is to get out there, meet new people, try new things and no matter how old you get always think like a child in aspect of playing with new things and never settling for “good enough.”

In our business we need to keep “playing” with new technologies. We can do web development the way it was done 10, 5 or even a year ago. In the past year or two social networking sites like Facebook, Twitter, etc. have taken a huge jump in popularity and even in those realms people are finding ways to innovate those things fit their needs. Podcasting, what we like to call “your own radio station” from both the user and producer end has just become mainstream in the past couple of years as well. We are working to position our company as the premiere podcasting source in Greenville,SC both in terms of helping clients get their message out as well as producing our own content.

How active are you and your business in local networking groups or connecting with others on a regular basis? If you are in your own world you may be perfectly content with how you feel about things and see not need to change but listening to others in person, via blog comments or participating in online forums is one way to keep you and your company sharp and on the innovative edge. What interesting collisions are you encouraging in order to think creatively and give new life to your business and personal ventures?

When you hear the term, “Personal Branding” an initial thought may be that it’s all about how you look and come across to people but I was very happy to see a very refreshing post at the Personal Brand Blog on the myth that personal branding is about you. Dan, who write and runs the Personal Branding Blog interviewed Daniel Pink about his new book, “The Adventures of Johnny Bunko: The Last Career Guide You’ll Ever Need.” and one of his favorite quotes from the book is, “You’re here to serve, not to self-actualize.” I love that. What are your thoughts?

Last night was a great night of networking and learning in various networking groups. It wasn’t until the middle  of the afternoon when I looked at my wife and business partner’s shared calendar that I was aware of a Small Business Owners meeting at the Greenville, SC Chamber of Commerce. I am so glad I went.  Everyone there were small business owners in the Upstate of South Carolina or interested in entering the Greenville,SC market. We had a chance to listen to Timothy Justice of Rescom Construction and ask him questions about what we could do in our own businesses to take them to the next level. Very encouraging.

After the meeting at the Chamber I went to the meeting of the Upstate Entrepreneur Forum which was about a mile away. This was another opportunity to network with other entrepreneurs and listen to Elizabeth Garrison of Ever Green Recycling, her business vision and past business experience.  Once again I got some great tips and ideas to grow my own business and to make it stronger.  Not to mention I love meeting others I can work with and help succeed and thus help my community prosper.

I had to leave the UEF a little early, It pained me to do so but on the other side of town another group I am very passionate about was meeting.  The Greenville Mac User’s Group has been around a long time and I’m happy to be a part of the group of enthusiastic Mac computer users.  Last night’s GreenvilleMUG meeting revolved around the discussion of backups and we also had a video conference with our local Apple rep who could not make the meeting in person last night. I have a desire to start a more specialized group of people who want to develop applications of the Mac OSX platform and the iPhone.

The only thing I regret about going to all the meetings last night was I had to spread myself around, leave early at one and show up a little late at another. I didn’t get to network and make as many connections as I could have. I do plan on e-mailing people I meet with last night who I exchanged business cards with to do some of that networking today.

Did you see me last night (4-14-08)?

This is my third series of the year in which I address a very general and sometimes misunderstood term. The first series was on design, the one before this one was on branding and now I wish to address the subject of marketing and it’s many aspects. Marketing can conjure up some interesting, sometimes negative or at the least misunderstood feeling or impressions.

I started to touch on the subject in the branding series because the two can be intertwined in many ways. Our clients want to use the most innovative and effective ways to showcase their business and products and this is done through integrated marketing communications.

Marketing however is not a one size fits all solution. Different companies have different marketing needs and we will address them in this series. The following is a list of what I plan on covering in the days ahead;

1. Your Marketing Plan
2. Public Relations
3. Advertising
4. Branding
5. Customer Relationship Management
6. Direct Marketing
7. Internet Marketing
8. Search Engine Optimization
9. Buzz Marketing
10. Evangelism Marketing

This series will give you a firmer understanding of marketing and how it can help your company succeed in both great and difficult economic times. In the series I may give example targeted to our local markets, Greenville, SC or Upstate, SC in general but you should be able to apply these principles anyway with minor adjustments.

Almost all of my life I have been exposed to some form of multi-level network marketing. The most famous or rather infamous networking company is Amway which I think is know today in the United States as Quixtar under their holding company.  In recent years network marketing has become the venue of many companies that sell health food, cosmetics and telecommunications, etc.
Despite the complaints I have had over the years about this method of marketing I am not opposed to the idea it’s just that too many of these ventures fail in their approach. The most obvious disturbing thing to me about Amway/Quixtar is a “cult-like” devotion they expect from their distributors.  That’s the most obvious but it hit me the other day what disturbs me more than anything about almost any company that tries to market their products this way.  Are you ready?  They are not focused.  It seems that before I have had any chance to start using or buying a product on a frequent basis the distributor is trying get me to sign up as a distributor myself!  The reason for this is they will get a cut of any sales their down line makes.  Once again I am not opposed to this method of marketing.  I’m opposed to trying to be sold on selling a product before I have had the chance to be a consumer that is advocate of the product.  It’s like asking someone to marry you on the first date. If you product is as great as you say it is then give me some time to fall in love with it.

Now before you think I am being overly negative I want to tell you about a company that does it right.  Avon.  My grandmother sold Avon for many years after she retired and did very well.  She had many customers all over town and even had the guts to sell Avon to an annoying telemarketer who interrupted her on the phone one day!  Avon is great about cultivating customers who love their products and from what I have seen their distributors don’t make creating a downline the priority. They make their products the priority.

I just finished a series on branding and this is definitely a “branding” issue. Are you selling people on the opportunity of promoting your company or are you focused on your product? Is your product or service so compelling that others will want to sell it for you or woud desire to be your employee?

Why do so many “multi-level network marketing” companies put so much energy in selling the opportunity to sell their product and less in actually selling the product?   Do you sell and innovate your products and services that can “sell themselves” or are you putting more energy in “selling your company?” Even if your business is not using a network marketing model do you you use the same strategies when talking to other?  Do you talk more about your “business” or do you extol the great products and services your business provides?