Lame Leaders

Posted on by Karen

It goes without saying that there are some people in management positions who should not be there at all. Either they are not qualified to be in that position, or they are simply not cut out for being in a position of authority. Not all managers are good, and not all managers are leaders! What is the difference between a manager vs. a leader, and what constitutes a “lame” leader?

Let’s find out . . .

Lame leaders do not lead by example. Setting a standard by doing (practicing what they preach) is a concept that is essentially foreign to them. Rather, their mantra is “Do as I say, not as I do.” True leaders set the example by modeling the behavior they want others to emulate, because they know it comes from the top down.

Lame leaders do not like to be challenged; they always think they are right, and are not open-minded enough to consider another perspective. Some (not all) managers do not like to take chances, or get out of their comfort zones. If they are in a management position by default, and not by choice (or because they are qualified), then they may not possess the vision, clarity, or innovativeness for where their product or company should be headed in the future. Many avoid conflict or other unpleasant situations that make them uncomfortable. They may even take extreme steps for avoidance, including not returning phone calls or emails, being unresponsive, or blaming someone else.

Lame leaders are not professional. What are some examples of not exhibiting professional behaviors? Lame leaders do not say “Thank you” or otherwise acknowledge other people’s efforts (whether they have done a good job, or even at all). They may play favorites, thereby letting some employees get away with certain behaviors but not others, and not applying a uniform standard equally to all employees. They may talk about employees behind their back, or talk about certain employees to other employees. In addition, they may tell you one thing to your face but do or say something else entirely behind your back.

So what are some qualities of good leaders?

True leaders welcome and take advantage of other people’s strengths and use those strengths to their advantage. They know that having smart, creative people on their team will help make them shine along with their whole organization! In contrast, lame leaders are threatened by other people’s strengths. When an employee starts to shine, they immediately put those employees “in their place”! Lame leaders will do everything they can to stay in charge and make sure other people know it. Because they are insecure in themselves, they don’t want anybody else to outshine them.

Real leaders welcome high achievers to their teams because they are secure in their own right. Real leaders embrace what others bring to the table, in terms of knowledge and skills; not only that, they embrace and publicly acknowledge other people’s  contributions to an organization. Real leaders are not threatened by, or jealous of, other people’s accomplishments.

What else? Real leaders develop or mentor other people so they can grow and reach their potential, (instead of try to squash them under their thumbs). Real leaders are visionaries. They share their vision with others and form alliances in order to accomplish a goal. Real leaders recognize when something is not working, and are not afraid to change course.

Now I ask you – how about you?

What makes a leader?

Do you have any examples or stories of lame leaders? How about real leaders who inspired you?

 

Posted in Business, Careers and Career Development, Self-Improvement and Personal Development | 14 Comments

A Career Change Can Be Hard

Posted on by Karen

The topic of career change is a hot one! Today, with the economy the way it is, many people who are out of work are being forced to consider an entirely new profession, in order to find a job in a field that is growing and employers who are hiring.

Because I do career coaching, this subject has come up recently in discussions with my clients. But also on a personal level, I have received a lot of inquiries from my GIS colleagues, so I thought I would write about it.

Many of you who have known me a long time, have asked about my own personal career change out of over 20 years in GIS into a new career of business and career coaching. There are several aspects I will discuss here.

The first is that it is very rare nowadays for one person to do the same thing their entire life. I heard one statistic that people change careers up to 8 times in their life. I think 2 or 3 careers in a lifetime is perhaps more realistic.

With increased lifespans, if a person ends up doing the same thing for all of their working years, it can get boring pretty quickly. Plus, as you change and grow as a person, what you have always done for a living may not be a fit anymore. In your early 20s, when you choose a subject to study (or a career to pursue) in college, it’s hard to know if that career will still be a fit for you when you’re 40 or even 60 years old.

So how do you change out of one career into another, especially if you have deep emotional ties to the people (colleagues, co-workers, etc.) in a certain career field (as I did with GIS)?

Focus on moving forward.

If you are burned out in a job or a career, and/or ready for a change, how do you know when it’s time to move on? Consider:

How much have you accomplished in that career field lately?

Are you still coming up with new ideas?

Do you have anything else to contribute in that field?

Are you still able to earn a living in this field, or are job prospects slim?

              Are you eager to learn new things? Or do you roll your eyes at the prospect?

 

If you can’t answer with an excited “YES!” to most of these questions, then it’s probably time to move on.

Focus on moving forward and what’s in front of you, even if it’s scary. There is something better waiting for you.

For me personally, moving forward and embracing my newfound coaching career in its entirety was very difficult to do. Even though coaching is a perfect fit for me, and I truly believe it was what I was meant to do, I hung on to my old career for a while. Because I had been successful in GIS, and was “known” as a well-respected software instructor for many years, it was difficult for me to let go of that persona.

So why did I leave?

For a while I lived in two worlds, using my job as a “loan” while I built up my coaching practice (a strategy I learned from my own coach!). However, things had changed a lot in GIS – from easier-to-use integrated technologies, to not as much demand for in-person instructor-led training anymore. All of the companies I was certified to teach for had made significant changes to their training programs or closed them down entirely. But more than anything else, it simply wasn’t who I was anymore, even though others tried to pigeonhole me. I had simply grown out of that career (I am sure that many of you can relate!).

So how do you know what is the right path for you?

God shows you the way. He may close some doors but then others open, or he makes the path easier in a certain direction. Eventually your new career will take off! Joel Osteen calls this “an anointing of ease” – where things come to you naturally, and you are in a groove or a flow.

Now that my coaching career has started to take off, I look at the clients who I have helped in their lives, careers, and businesses, and it is very fulfilling to me. I have met some of the most amazing people, including my clients, who I wouldn’t have met if I had not started coaching. On top of that, my clients value me and appreciate the work that I do. I have a new book – Entrepreneur Extraordinaire – coming out in a few weeks (Listen to the free tele-summit book launch here). Now I can look ahead to the future with excitement and a high expectation from this new career. If you think about it, when I first started out on my own teaching GIS and GPS, I didn’t know I would be successful either.

The bottom line is that you have to do what is right for you, regardless of what other people tell you. There will be always be naysayers. Careers (and jobs!) can plateau or are no longer fulfilling – hey it happens (that is a great time to consult a career coach by the way!).

Another thing I will say is follow your heart. Don’t do what others expect you to do. I had to come up with what worked for me, based on my skills, background, and experience. I was fortunate because there is a lot of overlap in the skills used in training and those used in coaching. You may have to get some additional education. But whatever it is, move forward. Change is hard – sometimes it is difficult to let go of the old – your old life, old ties, old friends (and colleagues), and move into the new! But do it, because the rest of your life is waiting for you!

Now I ask you – what are your stories?

Any career changers out there who want to share your perspective?

 

Posted in Careers and Career Development, Self-Improvement and Personal Development, Tips for Starting a Business | 5 Comments

The Balancing Act Part II

Posted on by Karen

Yesterday I spoke on work/life balance for an absolutely fabulous roomful of ladies at a Houston Women’s Luncheon. This particular women’s group consisted of graduates from my alma mater, Texas A&M University; and I was honored to be asked to speak. The room hosted a variety of women at various places in their careers and at different ages – some single, some married with kids, some married with no kids yet, and even some grandmothers!

In my talk – “The Balancing Act” – I discuss the challenges working women face when deciding if and when to have children in their life, the benefits and stigma of going part-time in the corporate world, and the decision many career women make to start a business after having children. Recent college grads who are extremely focused on their career may think they have all the time in the world to get pregnant and have children.

However, waiting to have children after the age of 35 can cause other, sometimes unforeseen issues, including infertility, and possible birth defects. Those things, combined with a few other issues that come with being older parents, including being part of the “sandwich generation” (simultaneously taking care of elderly parents and young children), not having as much energy later in life to raise kids, and being the oldest mom in the room when at children’s school events and activities, can make parenthood very challenging at an older age. Afterward, the Q&A session generated an excellent discussion among the attendees. Below are some of the highlights.

Are most companies open to the idea of letting women work part-time after she has a child?

The group had different experiences with this situation. In the end it comes down to the individual company – who you work for really does matter. Larger companies may be less sensitive about losing women who are good employees than smaller companies are. Smaller companies know that good people are hard to find and they may value them more, thus allowing them to have part-time opportunities when their children are younger. If companies are “old school” or are run by “good ‘ol boys” then you may have less of a chance to go part-time. In any case, you must first prove yourself to the firm and be valued before you can approach the firm about any of these options.

When women decide they have had enough of 80+ hour work weeks, and want out of Corporate America, what are their options?

At this point, many women go part-time, try flex-time, quit entirely, or start their own business. Each of one of these options has its pros and cons. But overall, when women leave companies for more flexibility, the workforce loses talented, capable people! And even though the corporate world’s loss is the PTA/PTO’s gain, these are still huge issues unless companies recognize that they need to provide more flexibility for working mothers.

Women leave Corporate America for many reasons, many times for more flexibility. But there are other reasons as well. Many hit the glass ceiling, meaning they have gone as far as they can go with a certain company or even in a certain career (I coach a lot of people who are in this position and who are looking for a career change). Others hit a different kind of ceiling, in terms of a pay cap on their salaries, and decide to leave to start their own business.

What if a woman decides to quit her job and stay home with her children for a few years?

If a woman decides to re-enter the workforce, then she will have to see what the economy is like at that time. She may have to brush up on her skills, technical or otherwise, before starting the job hunt process.

What about gaps in a resume? That can be compensated for with volunteer activities; furthermore in this economy, having a 1 or 2 year gap in work experience is not unusual because many people who have been laid off are often between jobs for an extended period of time. If a stay-at-home-mom decides to start her own business after a few years, then she may need to hire a business coach to help her get started.

What if you are extremely focused on your career and you don’t have kids, are you more likely to get promoted?

The answer to this one was a “Yes”. A woman from the audience answered and said that because she didn’t have children, that she was able to rise to a higher rank within a company than her female counterparts with children, and also she was able to travel when others couldn’t. However, one of my own clients sacrificed having a family in order to attain the status of “partner” at one of the big consulting firms, and today she no longer works there!

The bottom line is that you never know what’s going to happen to you in your life. You may or may not have kids, but don’t live with the regret of not having them in favor of a career. Sometimes your plans don’t work out, or what you thought you were going to do with your life changes. As you get older, your priorities change. You may go through a career change as what you decided to do with your life originally (ie. what you studied in college), is no longer fulfilling. Bottom line – don’t live with regrets because it’s the things in life that you don’t do that you will regret the most!

So now I ask you “Do you have any comments and feedback on any of these issues?”If so, I would love to hear your stories!

Posted in Business, Careers and Career Development, Parenting, Work/Life Balance | 8 Comments

Innovation in Business Part II

Posted on by Karen

Based on some of the feedback I received after last week’s blog post about innovation I have decided to write a follow-up.

So what exactly is innovation?

Innovation in business is a significant improvement in a product or process that often results in increased efficiency, a new paradigm, and/or an improvement in corporate profits. So what results in innovation? Often when a new process, technology, or technique, is applied to an existing business or product (ie. during the manufacturing process). Another method of innovation is applying a new technology to another industry, thereby giving a boost or competitive edge to a company or product.

One of my regular blog readers (thank you Roy A. Ackerman) supplies a “parochial” definition of innovation. According to Roy, “Innovation involves a change in a process or product that results from study and/or experimentation and bringing it to reality. Changing your business operations from paper entry to computer could have been considered innovative two decades ago; now it’s simply routine. Changing the color of your packaging is not innovation.”

What are some other specific examples of innovation?

Let’s start with Henry Ford, who didn’t so much invent the automobile as he did mass production of it. The assembly line is what made production of an automobile more efficient, and thus more affordable. How? Before the assembly line, cars were made one-at-a-time, by hand. Because of the high number of man hours required to produce a car, the cost for an individual auto was quite expensive. The assembly line, an idea (or innovation) which Ford perfected, allowed for mass production of cars; as a result, each auto took less time to produce and lowered the price point, thus making them affordable to the masses.

Another example is Steinway & Sons pianos. During the 170+ years that the company has been in business, they have been issued over 130 patents based on innovations that have improved the quality of their pianos. Many of these innovations were based on emerging (at the time) engineering and scientific research, including new developments in the understanding of acoustics, which resulted in major shifts forward in the musical arena. As a brand, Steinway & Sons has become synonymous with excellence; they are top-of-the-line, state-of-the-art premium pianos sought-after by most artists.

NASA is a prime example of new technology applied to other industries. Like it or not, the space program has been a major driver in the U.S. economy. How? Because of having to figure out how to do things that had never been done before – not only sending a man into space – (watch Apollo 13), but also how to adapt objects commonly used on earth for use in zero gravity. As a result, a whole slew of new materials came out of the space program. These materials were then applied in other industries to make tennis rackets, and bicycles – all of which led to improvements in these sports. Now that’s innovative!

So how about you?

Do you have any examples of innovation?

What do you to do apply innovation in your business?

Posted in Uncategorized | 9 Comments

Innovation In Business: How Critical is it?

Posted on by Karen

Innovation is essential in Business. How essential?

Let’s start with a quote from Bill Gates:

“Capitalism has worked . . . (but) it has shortfalls. It doesn’t necessarily take care of the poor, and it underfunds innovation.”

Now let’s follow-up that up with a fact:

In 2009, the United States ranked dead last of 40 nations examined by the Information Technology & Innovation Foundation when it came to “change” in “global innovation” over the previous ten years.

Innovation is one of the most critical factors for having a long-term successful business. Businesses that don’t ever change, innovate, evolve, or keep up with the times don’t grow and thus won’t have a future.

The best companies, the ones that are most innovative, are the ones who flow in a constant state of iterative change and evolution. They don’t get stuck doing things the same way, they are fluid, and can turn on a dime. They recognize that “just because they’ve always done things a certain way” doesn’t mean that things always have be done in that exact way. When faced with a challenge, they can change and adapt.

So how does this apply to you?

If you are a sole-proprietor you must keep up with the latest-and-greatest technology, constantly improve your processes, and periodically reinvent yourself and your business. If you keep on doing the same thing over and over again, in the same way, and don’t ever come up with anything fresh or new, you will stagnate and eventually go out of business. Other companies with newer business models will pass you by.

So what can you do to innovate?

Never let yourself get stagnant. Be flexible and open to new ideas. Learn as much as you can, attend industry conferences, and keep up with trends and technology. Figure out ways to apply new technology to your existing business processes.  Know what your competitors are doing. This is all part of being an entrepreneur!

The bottom line is if you are doing business the same way you are right now, in ten years, you may be out of business. Like these ideas? Look for more information, tips, tricks and ideas in my new upcoming book Entrepreneur Extraordinaire. You can pre-order a copy by clicking here. Also don’t forget to download a copy of my free report “Top 10 Mistakes that New Business Owners Make” by filling out the opt-in form on this webpage.

Now I ask you:

What do you do to innovate in business?

Have you thought about it?

What new processes or technology have you adopted lately?

 

Posted in Business, Money, Tips for Starting a Business | 11 Comments

The Balancing Act

Posted on by Karen

Work and Life Balance – is there even such a thing?

Last week I gave my signature talk on “The Balancing Act” – learning to balance work and family – to the TBPW in northwest Houston. (If you missed it, you can catch it again next Tuesday here.)

My talk was well-received, though it is not your typical talk regarding work/life balance. Although I do give some tips and tricks for managing the household and work, the talk covers specific issues and struggles that women face regarding careers, marriage, and having children.

Life is about choices, and for women in particular, whether or not to have children is one of the biggest choices she will ever make! Either way it will impact the rest of your life!

There is no good time to have a family. There is such a thing as being too young, and not having enough life experience, or enough money, to raise a child. However if you wait until you have enough money to have kids you may never have kids!

There are some advantages and disadvantages to waiting to have a family. Women are getting married later for many reasons (societal and financial), but is there such a thing as waiting too long?

The health of the mother is the most important determining factor in whether or not you will have a healthy baby. There are certain risks that go along with “Advanced Maternal Age.” Not only can a pregnancy be high risk, but waiting until beyond the age of 35 can lead to birth defects, and increased incidences of Down’s Syndrome and Autism, which is not often considered when a woman is focused on her career.

Furthermore, there’s the age old argument of whether or not to stay home after you have kids.

After my talk, a woman approached me. She said that children can end up being resentful toward their mom if their mom isn’t there for them while they are growing up. She said that she had worked full-time when her children were young and that they ended up resenting her for it! I really felt for her, as I am sure this was a difficult admission for her to make.

I have heard similar stories about immigrants, particularly women, who come to the U.S. to work. They leave their families, often young children, behind in order to work and send money home. In this way, they think they are taking care of their children, but the children end up being resentful of their parents because they are not around. When this happens to young boys, they can end up in gangs because they have no other role models.

So what’s the balance?

That’s why, as a “Full-Time Woman” myself (working/career mom with kids), I advocate a part-time or flexible career. Being a stay-at-home mom, while admirable, is not for everyone! Some women must keep their own sense of self and identity, and many do this through a job or a career.

So now I ask you – what’s the balance?

Is there such a thing as waiting too long to have children? Why or why not?

What are some ideas and suggestions you have to deal with work/life balance?

Posted in Careers and Career Development, Parenting, Work/Life Balance | 3 Comments

New Facebook Changes

Posted on by Karen

Once upon a time Facebook was a wide open platform. It was new and exciting! Early adopters of Facebook quickly discovered its practical uses for business and used the power of Facebook to do pioneering work to become successful online entrepreneurs.

But all good things must end . . . or at least change . . .

Recently Facebook has incrementally added more restrictions – some of these are very subtle. For instance, last night when I logged in, I was greeted by an unusual message. Immediately upon logging in, a message popped up in my face stating that I had been “reported” for requesting to be friends with someone who didn’t know me (or who was not my friend). I was required to acknowledge Facebook’s “policy” before I was allowed to proceed any further and go on to my own page.  The funny thing is that I don’t send out many “friend requests” at all!

Does anyone know exactly when this new policy was implemented?

Another thing I noticed is that you can no longer “tag” someone in a photo without their permission.

It hasn’t always been this way  . . . once upon a time when Facebook was new, you could invite anyone who was on Facebook to be your friend. With over 500 billion users, this was the power of Facebook that first made online entrepreneurs see dollar signs! Facebook represented a huge pool of customers (sitting ducks?) all together in one place.

Which brings up an interesting question – what exactly is a friend?

We all have people we know from being online that we wouldn’t know in person. In this way the Internet has enriched and enhanced our lives. Otherwise we would not have a way to meet people who live in other states, or who are not close geographically. Like-minded people who share common interests can join online groups together.  By seeing what people post in their comments and blogs, you can get a pretty good idea of who someone is, even if you’ve never met them.

So is this truly a friend? There are different levels of “friends” – people you have known your entire life vs. people you have just met, for example (but this is a topic best saved for another post!).

So how does Facebook actually know who I know? It has algorithms, true. But I have lived on both the east and west coast (disconnected geographically) as well as in several cities in the great state of Texas. So just how exactly does it know who I know and who I don’t know in-person? And who is Facebook to make that decision for me?

Because you can’t do some of the things you used to do anymore, people are getting resourceful.

Recently I “liked” a business page – it was a hotel in a far off land that I have never been to. The administrator of that page in turn, made me an “Admin” of the hotel page. After that, every time the hotel page updated their status, that update showed up in my Newsfeed. It was a sneaky (and a tad underhanded) way for the hotel page to get more views on their page, as everyone I am connected to could see those updates.  I checked and that page had about 50 admins! Why? Probably because Facebook no longer allows people to “Friend” people they don’t know!

So what’s your take?

Have you noticed, and if so, do you like the new Facebook changes?

Do they affect you?

Will these changes restrict your ability to use Facebook for business?

Are they important?

Posted in Business, Social Media Marketing | 11 Comments

Why is Change So Difficult?

Posted on by Karen

As you go through life, you will change who you are. The person you are/were at age 16 will not be the same person you are at age 40 or at age 60. Or you may reinvent yourself, or change careers to become a “new you”!

As you change and grow over time, what you believe may change too. And, paradoxically, many times your beliefs must change in order for you to change and grow!

When you change, it can be good and bad. There can be a dark side to changing who you are as a person. Or you could just get old and cranky! Hopefully the changes you go through as you evolve and grow will be for the better, but one thing is definite – the person you are today will not get you where you want to go. Usually you have a lot to learn in the process of climbing the figurative mountain in order to reach a goal.

Success takes work.

So why can it be so hard to let go of a past self? What keeps people from moving forward into a new life?

Change can be hard. Most people know that.  So why can it be so hard to let go of the old?

For many people, it’s because they are letting go of an identity, and the relative safety of knowing who they are (or who they once were). It can be hard to move from a safe place where you have operated for many years – especially if you were successful – into a new situation. There is a little bit of fear and discomfort associated with change.

But the fact is that you must let go of the old to make room for the new to come into your life. Yes, every bit of it! Yes, even it’s scary. Don’t stagnate! You need to move forward. That’s how we grow!

How about you?

Do you have a personal growth story to share?

Posted in Careers and Career Development, Self-Improvement and Personal Development | 17 Comments

How is Professionalism Related to Getting Clients?

Posted on by Karen

What does it mean to be professional? How does professionalism help you get clients?

Generally, the term “professionals” refer to a certain type of profession – doctors, lawyers, and people who hold college degrees, for example. “Professionalism” on the other hand, refers to a type of behavior, or a code of conduct. It’s the manner in which you present yourself every day, regardless of your industry or profession. So what does that involve, and how does it help get clients?

Let’s explore . . .

Do you exhibit professional behavior in your actions, attitudes, and in what you say towards other people?

What you say matters! Each and every day, your choice of words matters! Being professional means learning and applying some simple communication skills when dealing with clients and colleagues.

Do you insult others or worse, resort to name-calling when confronted? Don’t laugh – this actually happened on a conference call I was on with one of the gurus (see previous blog post).

Many people, without thinking, immediately contradict someone else when they disagree with what that person has said. A better approach, one which makes you come across as much more likeable, is to validate what the other person has said. After all, they believe that they are right too.

To state your case, say something like “I can certainly understand your perspective, however you may not have considered ____.” Validation takes tact and diplomacy.

Image! A second factor in coming across professionally is your image. How do you look? No, you don’t have to look like Angelina Jolie or Brad Pitt. But it helps to be well groomed and have good hygiene, a professional haircut and clothes, and neatly trimmed nails. You get the idea.

Impression. What do your clients (or co-workers) think of you? As a business owner, one of your top priorities should be to keep your customers happy.

Here’s a simple checklist:

Do you respect other’s opinions?

Do you respect their time?

Do you respect their work?

Are you responsive?

Do you get back to someone quickly? Do you return calls and emails promptly?

Do you have good communication skills? When a client needs something and you don’t have it right away, do you send them a quick email telling them you’ll get back with them once you have the information?

Do you tell your clients up-front that your conversation or project is confidential? This is very important in building trust! They need to know that they can be comfortable talking with you and confide in you if necessary and that you won’t divulge their information. Learn to practice discretion.

Are you a positive, happy person? Do others like being around you? Don’t criticize others or be a downer! Always be positive, happy, and upbeat, especially when you answer the phone! I have received jobs many times because I actually answered the phone (vs. going to voice mail), but also because I was happy to hear from the person and I responded before anybody else. (Note:  There are lot more tips in my book – Full-Time Woman, Part-Time Career).

Now I want to hear from you – do you have any tips on being professional?

Has your professionalism ever got you a new client (perhaps you won out over a competitor)?

How about the other way – has your professionalism (or lack thereof) ever caused you to lose a client?

Is there a time you have gone above and beyond for your clients? If so, I would love to hear about any of these!

Posted in Business, Careers and Career Development, Self-Improvement and Personal Development, Tips for Starting a Business | 10 Comments

Takeaways from the Texas Conference for Women Part II

Posted on by Karen

What is the biggest competitor you have online?

The Back Button!

So says Social Media and Branding expert Shama Kabani of The Marketing Zen Group. I was very fortunate to attend her talk during the 11th annual Texas Conference for Women.

Lovely and personable, Shama immediately relates to the audience when she tells the story of her unsuccessful job hunt after college graduation.  A visionary ahead of her time, in interview after interview she touted the benefits and marketing advantages of using Social Media to corporations. Back then, she received a lot of blank stares, a “thanks, we’ll be in touch,” and plenty of rejection letters.

Fast forward to today:  she heads up a global company, and she has used social media to make that happen!  Shama states that there has been a paradigm shift where people are now the media. From yelp.com, to online restaurant reviews, the new marketing paradigm is defined by consumers, rather than corporate ad-driven. Today’s savvy wired in consumers already know what they want and where to go to get it.

(Note from Karen:  Consumer-driven marketing is an expansion on the “crowdsourcing” phenomena, where people in a crowd, where an event is happening in real-time, film it with their cell phones, and then use Social Media platforms to post the video to the Internet and Tweet about it).

According to Shama, the “Top 3 Digital Trends” that will drive the future of the Internet are:

1)      Google +. In late 2010, Facebook surpassed Google in terms of web searches. Google + is Google’s answer to Facebook. It has an advantage because it gives more points on a weighted search because it is Google!

2)      Blogging Communities. Many bloggers get together and post their posts in one place, on one webpage, and on a single website. This has the benefit of increasing traffic to that site, and promoting multiple blogs on a corresponding Facebook page. (Check out Glassheel.com).

3)      Content Aggregates. This pulls content together from all over the web into one place. Within a few years, all video, mobile, web-based content, and TV will become integrated and seamless.

So where is this going?

Today the Internet has evolved into Web 2.0 where the web is used as a social platform to connect, collaborate, and communicate with others. In 5 years, the Internet will be catered to you individually (much like Amazon does today with making suggestions according to your preferences, and Google does with its filtered Internet searches). Because of this consumer expectations will be higher, and thus business owners, marketers, and brand builders must rise to a level above the consumer.

This means two things:

1)      Business owners must innovate, adapt, and aim high to stay one step ahead of the consumer.

2)      Your reputation is online. Watch what you say and what you post. All of the information that you post is being used to create a permanent profile of your buying habits and ultimately your life (think Facebook’s new timeline). Don’t make unprofessional comments because they are stored permanently on a server.  It starts early – according to Shama, 81% of kids under age 2 already have a digital footprint!

So where does that leave you?

Are you constantly innovating in your business?

Do you have a new plan for your business and/or using Social Media going forward?

I would love to hear from you!

Posted in Business, Social Media Marketing | 5 Comments