11 rules of technology success & social media 101
DESCRIPTION
Ramon Ray (http://www.smallbiztechnology.com) presentation to the Kentucky Small Business Development Center (October 2011)TRANSCRIPT
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RULES FOR TECHNOLOGY
SUCCESS
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RULE # 1 - INVEST IN TECHNOLOGY
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takes timenot get rich quicklook at options
INVEST IN TECHNOLOGY
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Stop thinking of technology as a pain
Stop thinking of technology as something dreary
Stop thinking of technology as an expense
INVEST IN TECHNOLOGY
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RULE #2 - OUTSOURCE
TECHNOLOGY
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Your time is valuable and limited
Your tech expertise is limited
TECH RULE # 2 – OUTSOURCE TECH
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Your results will be crappyOther things will suff erYou won’t look professionalYou’ll lose salesThe earth will open up and swallow you
TECH RULE #2 – OUTSOURCE TECH
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RULE #3 - EDUCATE YOURSELF
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Don’t be a nerd or geek
Be an educated business owner
Ignorance is not bliss. It’s stupidity and slow death
Technology is scary to those who don’t know
Everything is hard and confusing if you aren’t trained or informed
TECH RULE #3 – EDUCATE YOURSELF
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Read magazines with IT columns
Attend technology events (like today)
Take online courses (email marketing, etc)
TECH RULE #3 – EDUCATE YOURSELF
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RULE #4 - DON’T TECHNOLOGIZE A BAD
BUSINESS PROCESS
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Tech NOT the answer for poor hiring
Tech NOT the answer for a bad biz process
Tech NOT the answer for poor customer service
Tech is NOT the answer for low employee moral
Tech NOT the answer for an idot boss
RULE #4 – DON’T TECH A BAD BIZ PROCESS
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TECHNOLOGY WILL ONLY HELP A “BAD” PROBLEM GET BAD
FASTER
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RULE #5 - TREAT CUSTOMERS SPECIAL
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All customers are not the same
Segment your customers
Sell to the right customer
Sell them at the right time
Sell them the right thing
RULE #5 – TREAT CUSTOMERS SPECIAL “CRM”
Amazon.com – king of personalization
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Treating all customers as if they were the only one
Knowing what customers want and giving it to them
Implement Lifecycle Marketing
“CRM”
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TECHNOLOGY IS AN AID TO A GENUINE
CARE OF CUSTOMERS
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RULE #6 - LEVERAGE ONLINE SOFTWARE
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Faster implementation
Grows with your business
Easier on cash flowAutomatically
backed upGreat for virtual /
distributed teamsAutomatic updates
RULE #6 – LEVERAGE ONLINE SOFTWARE
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ON PREMISE SERVERS ARE NICE. MOST BUSINESSES
CAN BE ONLY “IN THE CLOUD”.
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RULE #7 - SECURE COMPUTING IS SMART
COMPUTING
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Hackers love you love your data
Be cautious onlineEducate your staffHave secure passwordsBackup your
informationBe wary of internal
security breaches ie “rogue employees”
Wireless computing – be nervous
RULE #7 – SECURE COMPUTING
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RULE #8 – LEVERAGE THE POWER OF
MOBILITY
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As productive OUT of your offi ce as IN your offi ce
Offi ce services should be “out of offi ce accessible”: fax, telephone, voice mail, email, fi les
RULE #8 – MOBILE PRODUCTIVITY
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Learn to use mobile tools
Have the right apps on your phone
Test a variety of mobile devices
Have redundancy
MOBILE TIPS
Don’t be cheap!
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Right phoneRight networkRight appsRight accessoriesRight mobile
devices (tablet, notebook)
MOBILE 101
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RULE #9 - UPGRADE YOUR WEB SITE
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Your web site is YOUOld web sites scream: “Don’t buy from
me”’Web site should sell for you 24/7Great design matters (ie Steve Jobs)Build in social features
www.10websitemusts.com
RULE #9 – UPGRADE YOUR WEB SITE
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RULE #10 - EMAIL MARKETING IS NOT
DEAD
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Nurtures Relationships
Loyal customersEveryone is not a
Social Media addict
RULE #10 – EMAIL MARKETING NOT DEAD
Ramon’s Email
Story
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Great subject lines
Great contentMeasure analyticsNot too often.
Not too infrequent.
Be informative.
EMAIL MARKETING
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RULE #11 - SOCIAL MEDIA IS NO JOKE
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Your customers and your customer’s mothers are social
Create a simple strategy
Measure resultsEducate employees
(The wrong Tweet could get someone fired or worse)
Each social media network is unique
RULE #11 – SOCIAL MEDIA IS NO JOKE
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Social media is not everything.
Watch out for the social media consultants (but do get help)
You are not alone (you know what I mean)
ON THE OTHER HAND…
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FrequentRelevantEngagingMeasure
SOCIAL MEDIA SUCCESS
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1. Invest2. Outsource3. Educate4. Don’t Technologize a Bad Business Process5. Customer Marketing6. Cloud (online) Computing7. Security8. Mobility9. Web Site10. Email Marketing11. Social Media
11 RULES OF TECH SUCCESS…
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THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME!
@ramonray