SURE YOU'RE TWITTERING, BUT DO YOU TWEET CHAT?

I recently participated in a Tweet Chat regarding promotional products. Learn how social media can be combined with other media, visit Felber & Felber's In The News
and click on the October 2009 article.

NETWORKING: ARE YOU PAYING IT FORWARD?

NETWORKING: ARE YOU PAYING IT FORWARD?

Whether you are in business, hoping to get back in or find yourself somewhere in between, you need to network. The rude awaking of a lost job has jolted many people to wake up one morning (or worse yet in the middle of the night) and say “I have to start networking.” The very next realization is they may have come to the game too late. You can help.

Many who know me have heard me profess building your network at all times. In this and all economies, you need contacts. Already have the job or never lost it? I bet you are getting requests to connect with people you only knew casually. Do they want to “have coffee” or “pick your brain?”

This is your time to shine. PAY IT FORWARD. A movie of the same name exists with this plot: A young boy attempts to make the world a better place after his teacher gives him that chance. Kevin Spacey and Helen Hunt, 2000.

While I have not seen the movie (now I guess I should), I am a firm believe in the Wikipedia definition: The expression "pay it forward" is used to describe the concept of asking that a good turn be repaid by having it done to others instead. In contract law, typically there are two parties but there is the concept of third party beneficiaries. Pay it forward merely applies this contract law concept so that third party beneficiary be a stranger to the creditor (or obligee). More specifically, the creditor (obligee) offers the debtor (obligor) the option of "paying" the debt forward by lending it to a third person instead of paying it back to the original creditor. Debt and payments can be monetary or by good deeds. In sociology, this concept is called "generalized reciprocity" or "generalized exchange". A related transaction, which starts with a gift instead of a loan, is alternative giving.

How can you help? Connect with job seekers and be generous with your time. Offer to introduce them to someone in your network. Have them practice their 30 second commercial with you or simply review their resume or portfolio. Informational interviews also allow you to meet great people outside of the formal job search process.

I keep getting asked why I attend these 400-700 person networking events. How can they be good for business? Do I really meet people that are interested in my business or just those lost souls looking for a job?

Do the math. I attend an event and meet 25-50 people, many searching for a position. Waste of time, right? But, it is not a matter of IF the economy will pick up, but WHEN. And, even if just one quarter of these folks get jobs, who do you think they will remember? Will they remember the people who ignored them and refused to network or the kind folks who connected with them on LinkedIn and went out of their way to help?

So, how are you Paying It Forward this week? Reach out to one friend or past colleague. Invite them to a networking event or better yet, bring them as a guest to a business networking event. Forward articles of interest and possible contacts in their field and make sure they know of all the job seeker support events.

You will see benefits; not just immediately, but years from now. Pay It Forward for better contacts in the future. Please let me know how you are helping. Post your comments. And, feel free to send me someone you think I can help.

Rob Felber

LEAD GENERATION SEMINAR (Part 2) SEPTEMBER 9TH

An Interactive Workshop Series for Manufacturers

Session 4: Advertising and Public Relations

BIG GLOSSY BROCHURES

small two-color flyers

Data Sheets

Folders

Do you have have stacks of these things lying around? Well, they cost money so they must be valuable . . . right? Maybe. Then again, maybe not. The important questions are: how can you tell? and, what can you do about it?

Bring your catalogs, brochures, and advertisements and join us:

Wednesday, September 9, 2009
7:30 to 9:30 AM
WIRE-Net
4855 W. 130th Street, Suite 1
Cleveland, OH 44135

Learn different advertising techniques:

display ads in trade publications
industry newsletters
business newspapers or directories
your company newsletters
your website and blog, banner ads
promotional products
Also: What is public relations as it pertains to increased sales, and how does that relate to your current and future customers? How do you get the best return on investment?

Your Coach

This workshop will be facilitated by WIRE-Net member Bruce Felber of Felber & Felber Marketing. Bruce has over 25 years of business to business marketing with a strong focus on manufacturing and industrial distribution. His firm specializes in lead generation programs utilizing direct mail, dimensional direct mail, and public relations programs.

A Client Who Blows Their Own Horn

It is not every day that I write about a client that loves to “blow their own horn.” You might think that must be a conflict for a marketing/PR agency, but in this case that is not true.

Our client actually plays the French horn with Cleveland Brass Works, a brass quintet. I was thrilled to be at a benefit concert last night at the United Methodist Church in Chagrin Falls. This annual concert was a free benefit for the Cleveland Food Bank www.clevelandfoodbank.org and featured jazz, Latin and a few show tunes.

Ok so what is so unusual about this? My client is a full-time general dentist. Marty Layman of Martin W. Layman DDS & Associates operates a large dental practice in Streetsboro, Ohio where he, two other dentists and a full staff attend to the needs of a growing community. Prior to entering the field of dentistry, Marty studied horn performance at the Cleveland Institute of Music. Marty has played in the Ohio Chamber Orchestra, Heights Chamber Orchestra and the Chagrin Studio Orchestra. He can be seen in this video www.youtube.com/watch?v=teXyb8Zwk68 from February of this year.

Marty has been in the practice of dentistry since 1994. Prior to the evolution of Martin W. Layman DDS and Associates in 2009, Dr. Layman had been associated with its predecessor practice since 1995, and was instrumental in the development of the Streetsboro practice in 2005.

Felber & Felber Marketing recently re-branded this practice with new logo design, brochure, profile sheets and a brand new website (www.laymandental.com).

When I asked Marty what does he like better music or dentistry he gave me this answer, “I love music and play whenever I can, but I really love the practice of dentistry and helping out others”.

This is one multi-talented person who will make you smile through music or a visit.

Bruce Felber

LEAD GENERATION SEMINAR AUGUST 12th

An Interactive Workshop Series for Manufacturers

Fast forward your learning curve by mastering the essentials of business-to-business direct marketing. Sharpen your skills with tips and strategies for increasing response rate and saving your company money. Update your knowledge on how to prevent common and expensive mistakes.

You'll build new skills faster. Immediately improve offers, creative, copy writing, research/testing . . . everything you do.

You'll avoid mistakes. Even if you apply only one technique that helps you prevent a potentially major error and loss, you've paid for the seminar many times over.

The next session:

Wednesday, August 12, 2009
7:30 to 9:30 AM
WIRE-Net
4855 W. 130th Street, Suite 1
Cleveland, OH 44135

Lead Generation

Get answers to important questions it could take you years of costly trial and error to learn on your own.

• Why don't general advertising techniques work on direct mail?
• Which offers work best?
• What does it take to write and recognize successful copy?
• What questions should we ask when choosing mail and email lists?
• What response rate can you expect?
• What advantages are there, if any, to multimedia integration?

There will be a second session on lead generation, being held on Wednesday, September 9, 2009.

Your Coach

These two workshops will be facilitated by WIRE-Net member Bruce Felber of Felber & Felber Marketing. Bruce has over 25 years of business to business marketing with a strong focus on manufacturing and industrial distribution. His firm specializes in lead generation programs utilizing direct mail, dimensional direct mail, and public relations programs.

Seating is limited; register early. Contact Mari-Elen Sammon at 216.588.1440 ext 121.

Marketing Dimensions Newsletter - Summer 2009

The latest edition of Marketing Dimensions, the online newsletter from Felber & Felber Marketing is now online.

From the world of marketing, public relations and beyond, we bring you stories, tips and articles that help you become a more effective business communicator.

Click here to view Summer 2009

Enjoy!

Rob Felber's Interview with David Crain

David Crain writes a blog on entrepreneurship. I was honored recently when he asked if I would like to be interviewed. Check it out: http://www.davecrainonline.com/10-questions-with-rob-felber.html

- Rob Felber

License to…..

License to…..


How much do you care about Ohio? Want to secure a vibrant workplace for your children? Improve the environment for business growth? Boost tourism while preserving natural resources?

Today I opened a very thick envelop from the Ohio Department of Development. While I am not a constant cheerleader, I do want to see our state improve. A few short weeks ago I came across the Ohio Ambassador program. I signed up, and then promptly forgot about it.

In today’s package was my very own laminated “License to Share the Ohio Story.” Even the weight of the laminate made me feel special and empowered. Not sure it will get me in the top clubs or invited to the mansion, but the subtleness prompted me to enlist your help.

So, let’s make this entry a place for everything GOOD about Ohio. The company that reads this may relocate here or simply decide to stay; and, they could be your next customer.

OH – IO

Robert Felber
Ohio Ambassador Cardholder