A Brighter Valentine's Day!

Valentine's Day is a day for love, for giving, and for showing those you care about just how much you care. On Monday February 14, 2011 love is exactly what I felt at Methodist Specialty Care Center. I had the chance to experience and be apart of a great event. It was very touching to see the smiles and to hear the laughs from the patients there.

Upon arriving at MSCC I didn't think I would enjoy myself. Honestly, I was tired from all the school work and was just ready to go take a nap. But once the patients rolled in to eat dinner things begin to change and my spirit was uplifted. As they ate I went around taking pictures and I met some nice people. Then the entertainment began and the place got live. I really enjoyed the show that MADDRAMA Performing Troupe put on and the patients did as well. That was a wonderful thing to know.

Once the event was over a few students from my Special Projects class went upstairs to give those who didn't make it to the show little Valentine's Day gifts and this is the moment where I really was touched and got teary-eyed as I begin to think about some of the things people including myself take for granted in life. To see some of the patients in a great mood inspite of their circumstances was an eye opener. Knowing there were patients at MSCC my age who still did/participated in things inspite of their disabilities was an eye opener for me as well. Life is not worth taking for granted.

It made me greatly happy that I had a chance to partake in something as heartfelt as that. To see those less fortunate than me smile was breathtaking. I loved every moment of my time at MSCC and I would love to attend regularly.

Social Networking/Marketing

To: All MBIC Members
Date: February 8, 2011
Re: Social Networking/Marketing Guidelines & Suggestions

Social networks, such as LinkedIn (www.linkedin.com), Twitter (www.twitter.com) and Facebook (www.facebook.com), are quickly becoming a very popular way for people to communicate, even in a business context. These social media giants have created a huge opportunity to share valuable information with potential and existing clients, referral sources, alliance partners and employees, while enhancing your credibility and subtly promoting your business. And the best part --- it’s free.

Here are some guidelines and suggestions to help start you on your way or optimize what you are currently doing:

Create a profile: Sign up for LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook or a combination of all three and develop a profile about yourself. Include as much information as you are comfortable with people knowing about you. Focus on those aspects of your life and business that leave people reading your profile with a positive, favorable impression of who you are.

Search & listen: Search for and connect with individuals and groups of other business owners and self-employed professionals like yourself, who are interested in improving and growing their businesses. Key managers and decision makers in larger businesses are also worthy of your consideration. Read what they are writing and how they are communicating. Get to know their behaviors, preferences, methods of publishing and sharing information.

Define your objectives: Social networking is an additional “tool” that you can use in your marketing “toolbox”. It is not meant to either be or replace direct marketing. You may be hurting rather than helping yourself if you use this to overtly sell yourself or your business services. Instead, get familiar with your audience and their desires. Become involved in their discussions and share your knowledge. Supply links to relevant industry news, events, videos and websites. Your audience will appreciate that you are knowledgeable about such issues. This will continue to enhance your credibility, build trust and in some instances help you become a center of influence, a “go-to“ person, someone of value to others. It may eventually lead to new or additional business and referrals. One caveat to remember --- once you post something, it is out there for all to see. So before you post anything, proof-read it and be sure that you are indeed comfortable with the content.

As a reminder, use of trademarks, branding elements and intellectual property must be done in a professional and meaningful manner which represents our presence in today’s business communities.

In summary, please be very clear that Social Media SHOULD NOT replace face-to-face relationship building --- this is just an additional avenue that many of you may wish to pursue away from normal business hours. Just as your Office Web Page or website, a newsletter, a blog, etc. are nice credibility builders, they cannot substitute for personal relationship building and selling. Otherwise, it’s “fool’s gold”. Social Media, as a supplement to referral-based marketing can be a terrific, value-added approach --- as a replacement it can derail your business.

If anyone has additional questions or comments, please contact Jim Finley.

Thank you!