With Neil Godin

What? Email is a social medium. And it can be at least as powerful as all the others. Case in point: I received an email on Friday from Bruce Young, a teacher at our local Walnut Grove Senior Secondary School. Bruce teaches entrepreneurship, and has assembled a group of ten local business people, including me, who act as coaches and class mentors. In his email Bruce told us that he wants to create a scholarship for the student “who will best represent our department,” as he or she pursues a career in business by attending a college or university. His email simply asked, “would you be interested in participating?” The responses were immediate. Someone said, “count me in for $100,” and just about everyone else chimed in, “me too.” Imagine that. A $1000 scholarship — raised in a matter of hours. That. Is the power of email.

Why? Think about what it usually takes to raise a $1000 scholarship. First, building a snail mail list of possible donors. Then making follow up calls. Then waiting by the mailbox – hoping. (If Bruce wanted to raise a larger scholarship, he could have asked us to forward his request to other business people. If I had sent it to you, is it possible that you would have contributed something? Very likely.)

How? Now it’s important to note that Bruce is not pitching a product or service – he’s asking or help with a cause. And, because just about everyone in business wants to support our youth– and wants to promote entrepreneurship – this was an easy ride. Similarly, your email campaigns will be most effective if you avoid pitching, and instead promote a cause – or offer an invitation to a special event – or engage the people in your data base in other ways that are helpful to them and/or to the community. In that way you can stay in touch without being perceived as spamming – and instead being perceived as a leader in your field.

Tipzntrix: Yes. You can use email to pitch a product or service as well. Example: I receive weekly coupons from a local chain called Meridian Meats and Seafood (purveyors of healthy meats, chicken and fish). I welcome their emails because I filled out a form in one of their stores asking to receive them. This, of course, is a different kettle of fish (or a horse of a different color, depending on which mangled metaphor you prefer). Personally, I think Meridian misses a bet by not inviting recipients to forward their coupon emails to friends. Using ‘word of mouse’ in that way would take them ‘viral’ instantly. (Is there an idea here for you?)

See you tomorrow.

NG
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Thank you Trilby !!

Our thanks to social media Twizzard, Trilby Jeeves, for her presentation at Saturday’s Social Media Challenge Meetup.com event in Langley, BC. And — thanks to the fifty plus people who joined us to hear Trilby’s take on using Twitter. It was a great gathering. Stay tuned for news of our next one.
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This week’s special offer:

‘Daily Sales Networking’ (Do this and you will succeed)

In this TeleCoach audio seminar, Neil shares the What, Why, When, Where and How of making daily sales networking calls. In an hour long interview by marketing expert, Shane Morgan, Neil walks you through the do’s and don’ts of sales networking – and emphasizes the critical importance of doing this work on a daily basis – and making it enjoyable.

Because very, very few business people use this ‘daily’ networking approach, we’re sorry, but if you do this there is virtually no way that you can avoid success in exceeding your sales goals.

Regular price: $29 US
Your Social Media Challenge discount price: $18
Sale ends: Monday, June 14

Click here to link to our store:
Then please copy and paste this code:  CHALLENGEWEEK3
Then click on the word ‘Apply.’
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If you haven’t already done so, please do so today. This is where we deliver a dynamic, creative (often edgy and always entertaining), business building idea every Tuesday and Thursday. It’s free of charge, and thousands of business builders say they love it. Click here to join us now.
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A special request: We need your story. If you use social media in any way to build your business, send an email to ndgodin@shaw.ca, or jonathan@neilgodin.com with the details – or provide your telephone number, and we will call you for details.

A special ‘thank you’: We will say ‘thank you’ with a copy of Neil’s ebook, ‘How to Start Your Economic Recovery – Right Now!’ for every idea submitted – whether we publish the idea or not. If you already have a copy of this ebook, let us know and we will send you a valuable alternate product.

Thanks very much!

Neil Godin and Jonathan Christian.
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