Have you heard the big news? Yes, it’s really true–social media is tough to understand and grasp. In fact, it’s even difficult for the “experts” to keep up with the advancements, new applications, and theories that are popping up around us. Over at Folk Media, we are constantly re-educating ourselves to keep up with the latest trends in social media. It can be quite overwhelming!

What can I say? Social media is confusing.

Well, I’m here to help you in your journey to understand social media a little better. I’m going to dispel your fears and join you on your social media journey. I’ve found three articles that have been published recently that will help you grasp the concept of social media on a more fundamental level. Sure, it might take some time to fully put these concepts into practice, and to grasp their power, but your exposure to them will help you exponentially in the long run.

The Social Media “Pro vs. Con” Argument
Link: Engagement: Are Social Media Better at Destroying Value Than Creating It?
One of the toughest things to understand about social media is the classic “Pro vs. Con” argument. You’ve probably heard it before. It goes something like this…

“Social media creates a better connection with my customers but it also makes me vulnerable to critics and negative publicity.”

Yes, that’s true. The key isn’t weighing the positive benefits over the negative implications that social media can bring. It’s choosing your end result – positive PR or negative consequences – and getting there.

The article above states both sides of the argument but the author is quite bias toward the positive end of things. Even still, it gives great information and allows for any one to understand the argument pressing between businesses and social media experts.

Social Media in Small Doses
Link: 3-2-1: My Quick Social Media Strategy

If you’ve ever researched social media strategy or what kind of actions to take to develop a high quality social media profile, you’ve probably been overwhelmed at your findings. Most “experts” advise that a person needs to make social media management their full-time job.

Unless you were hired as a social media marketer, that most likely isn’t going to be the case. You aren’t going to have the time or resources to spend all day behind Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, and YouTube. You probably wouldn’t mind it but you’ve got a laundry list of other tasks to get done throughout the day.

If you’ve looking for a quick and effective approach to social media, the 3-2-1 social media strategy is a great place to start. It lays a foundation for understanding social media presence and it gives you solid action steps developing a good name for your company or brand.

The Elusiveness of Trust
Link: 25 Simple Ways to Earn Trust In Social Media

Trust is important no matter what you’re doing in life but it is especially important as you engage your social media followers and friends. If your potential customers don’t trust you, they won’t buy your product, visit your website, or pass your information on to friends. See? Trust is super important in the social media world.

Believe it or not, trust is easier to build than you think. Using the 25 ways outlined in the article, you should be able to build trust almost immediately with the people you encounter both online and offline.

Trust is the key to social media success. It is the foundation of everything – conversation, action, connections, purchases – and needs to be a priority for you and your company.

Eric Alpin is the Associate Editor of

Folk Media

and works for a telecommunications company in Baltimore, Md. He is a social media enthusiast,

blogger

, writer, and student with a passion for leadership and self-development strategies and techniques. Find out more about Eric on

Twitter

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You Believe; They Buy

When you have made a purchase, one that you love, how passionate was the person about their product you bought from? Or, how about when you have chosen a Real Estate agent? Interior Designer? Lawyer? Did they appear enthusiastic, confident, energetic, and excited about their product/service? Chances are if you bought/hired them/etc, they were.
Having conviction and full force belief in your product/service is the way towards increased profits, incredible sales, and a thriving empire. People want to feel the passion you have for your business. They want to hear in your voice, and witness in your expression, the love you feel for your product/service. Many consumers begin their product/service search with speculation and suspicion. Some feel nervous about spending money, others may feel unsure of the necessity of the item of interest, and some may need to feel confident in their choice and you can help them through your guidance. It starts with you! If you believe, they will buy.
So, it sounds simple, right? It starts with preparation. Being prepared before you present, pitch, and articulate will help you bring in more clientele as your confidence will undoubtedly skyrocket, leaving your audience feeling thrilled to partake in your product/services. What steps can be taken to ensure you are confident in your product/service and have unwavering faith that your audience is making the smartest choice buying from you, hiring you, etc. versus choosing a competitor?

Here are 5 helpful steps to empower your presentation:

1) Research
Know your product, know your service, and know every intricate detail! There can never be too much research or education within your business. Learn about what you are offering your audience, research every angle, understand the lingo, and be incredibly knowledgable that you are able to overcome any objection and answer any question you are given. Knowing, is half the battle.

2) Reach out to Mentors/Colleagues
Many people feel embarrassed or ashamed to ask for help. Don’t be! Ask away..ask those you have seen succeed in your field the questions you need in order to follow the suit of success. Ask your colleagues to hear your pitch, listen to your presentation, and brainstorm with you new ideas. Ask your Mentors to sit down with you and review your business plans for your product/service. This is priceless information you can obtain and these people are there for your resource! Ask and you shall receive.

3) Compare/Contrast
It’s important to review what others in your field are doing and compare your product/services to theirs. What about your business sets you apart from your competition? What makes your business incredibly unique? Why would consumers feel they made the best choice purchasing from you/hiring you/etc? Comparing and contrasting your business to others goes along with Point 1, Research. This will allow you to gauge where you may want to consider improving, revamping, or updating your current offerings. In addition, when you are informed as to how others in your field are performing, you can utilize this knowledge to help you fine tune your presentation to shine above the rest. After all, you are amazing; it’s time to let your audience feel the same way about your business and your product/service!

4) Practice Your Pitch
Practice, practice, practice! This is essential as it will help you smooth out your process, catch any errors, and perfect your presentation. I consistently am practicing as I find it helps me to feel more certain of my presentation and, it also helps bring new thoughts/ideas my way to work with as well. Take the time to practice every piece of your presentation, pitch, etc. before you begin engaging with your audience. Think about this: when some of the world’s greatest public speakers, who are experts in their field, entertain an audience of 20,000+ people, rest assured, they have practiced. Even if you feel you have the presentation down pat and can recite it in your sleep, practice! This step will only benefit you from utilizing it.

5) Passion
This step is one that, through your research, preparation, and practice will seep out of your pores as you find yourself excited about your product/service. The more you know, the more you will be eager to share your business with others. You will find yourself full of energy and adrenaline, ready to conquer the world and share your amazing product/service with your audience. It is an incredible feeling and will help you catapult forward in your business! If you currently are in a position where you are lacking passion, think about the positive attributes of your job now and what steps you will need to take to reach a career that is evident of you living your passion. Passion is like fire; once it is ignited, it will reach everywhere! This is an amazing thing! Believe in yourself, believe in your product/service, prepare yourself, and you will be unstoppable!

These steps are designed to help you continue to leverage your business forward, regardless of what industry you are in and what product/service you have to offer. Focus on your goal, stick to it, and take the time to be prepared. Quality counts and you want to be a showstopper when you are representing your brand. Utilizing the above steps will assist you with empowering your product/service delivery. The more you believe in your product/service’s worth and are assured of your business, the more confidence will radiate from you. Your audience will feel your belief in your business and will be there ready, with money in hand!
You Believe; They Buy

To your success,
Samantha

Connect with Samantha on

Twitter

and subscribe to her

Newsletter

for tips, tools, and advice to empower your career. To book Samantha for public speaking, training, and coaching engagements, or to request a private session, please email her directly at Samantha@RelentlessConsultingGroup.Com.*

Success Starts Here: Less Promise, Greater Delivery

Hello clientele and colleagues and welcome to the “Ammo for Your Arsenal” series! I feel excited to be sharing with you empowering advice, tips, and tools that will help you in your day to day business as Professionals. Whether you are the CEO or are just beginning in the business world, this series will provide information which will be useful in all arenas. My goal is to bring forth a wealth of knowledge that outlines simple, efficient techniques for your use to assist you in continuing to create a successful business empire. We are kicking the series off with the art of “Less Promise, Greater Delivery,” the first Power Topic. Are you ready?! Let’s get started..

Less Promise, Greater Delivery… What exactly does that mean? It’s a short phrase yet, encompasses the formula to your success. For business professionals, regardless of the industry we are in, or position we hold within the company, the critical element to our lifeline is the ability to satisfy our clientele/audience/fanbase. Without them, we don’t exist. We want to provide every essential necessity to ensure they return to us for their services because they Trust and Believe in our business. We want to build relationships; lasting relationships with people who feel they know us, can relate to us, and are comfortable with us as their service provider…

…The way we make that happen is through Less Promise, Greater Delivery…I am going to break this down as it is two-fold and each half is the ammo you will need to continue growing your business, clientele base, and also retaining those you already have loyal to you.

• Less Promise: aka “Under Promise”
…this is where many find themselves in hot water without even realizing it. It is easy to meet a potential client, business colleague, future investment partner, etc and find yourself promising them the moon, stars, sun, and every planet in existence. If you are capable of delivering that, yes, do it! However, it is much more wise to under promise what you will be offering, and wowing your audience when you exceed their expectations by light years. Err on the side of caution here. Confidence, as we know, is key in how you present yourself. With that being said, it is very easy to get caught up in wanting to impress your audience, with the result of promising more than you can follow through on because you are so determined to bring these guys onboard. You can do that without delivering false expectations and your impression will be one that is deemed respectable. This relates to something as simple as when you state you will forward an email or as to when you commit to a project deadline. You want to create commitments which are realistic for your business model and are sure to be honored. Your word is one people will NOT forget..keep it simple..keep yourself organized so you can recall every encounter with your audience…remember; whether in an email or verbally spoken, your word is a contract of its own.

• Greater Delivery: aka “Over Delivering”
…this relates to exceeding the expectation you have set forth from what was originally promised to your audience. This is where you have promised a Honda, but have delivered a Bentley. You have committed to a delivery and have executed that delivery by means which are far beyond what your client was originally asking of you. If you are a Graphic Designer, perhaps you promised your clientele a finished website in two weeks, but have delivered the final product in one. If you are a Recording Artist, perhaps you promised your fans a chat session on Twitter, but have gone live on UStream to interact instead. If you have scheduled a meeting with a potential client, perhaps you arrive five minutes early and have all documents prepared before they walk in the room. Over delivering can be executed and appreciated in simple ways but the key to this is: you have delivered MORE than you had committed to. You have gone above and beyond, even if in the simplest form. Your audience will thank you, your clients will trust you, and your image will be noteworthy as one filled with integrity. It is critical that your delivery is greater than what you have promised your audience. When you come through, your audience will be awed. Your clients, colleagues, etc will remember this…and this is how you WANT to be remembered! You want to get in there and consistently build a solid reputation!

Less Promise, Greater Delivery

As I know you are aware, the business world is full of many people who cut corners, are dishonest, and talk fast in order to earn a quick buck. Don’t place yourself into that mold due to not keeping your commitments … Once in there, you’ll be fighting tooth and nail to get out! Your image will be destroyed. In the long run, more will be coming out of your pocket to salvage all that you have lost along the way therefore; taking the easy road is one that will detour before you reach the road of success. So, steer clear of that mold..promise what you know you are capable of delivering, and take the time, even a moment, to commit to take it a step further by delivering more. Keep it simple..

The road to success begins with committing, and following through…ultimately, this ammo will give you the essential tool to build your credibility and reputation as sound, reliable, and one that is focused on ensuring your clientele/audience/fanbase is satisfied. You do not want to tarnish your word. Negativity spreads like wildfire and it is much easier to be labeled with a sour image than it is to retain a credible one.

Keeping Your Commitments = Keeping Your Business

Less Promise, Greater Delivery…make this your business mantra! Repeat it, use it, and follow it. It is your blueprint to creating a phenomenal and triumphant empire.

To your success,
Samantha

Connect with Samantha on

Twitter

and subscribe to her

Newsletter

for tips, tools, and advice to empower your career. To book Samantha for public speaking, training, and coaching engagements, or to request a private session, please email her directly at Samantha@RelentlessConsultingGroup.Com.*

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, August 12, 2010
Media Contact
Candice N. Mackel
Candice Nicole Public Relations
301.875.3224
Candice@CandiceNicolePR.com

Entrepreneur, Samantha Casey Launches “Ammo for Your Arsenal” Business Series
Offering Empowering Advice, Ideas, Solutions to the Everyday Business Individual

San Diego, CA (Thursday, August 12, 2010)- Samantha Casey, owner of Relentless Consulting Group is proud to announce her return to the business world. She recently took a brief hiatus to care for her Mother who passed away in June from cancer. Samantha, who is a vibrant business woman, felt her return would be one not just for herself, but to honor her Mother as well. She states that “I feel blessed to have had such an amazing woman as my Mother. She and I were very close and it means so much to me to continue forward on my journey as I know she would have wanted me to. She felt excited to hear about “Ammo for Your Arsenal” when I told her about the idea previously and I want to continue to make her proud every day. This series is close to my heart for many reasons. I feel honored to share it with my clientele and colleagues, and have the ability to carry my Mom’s legacy forward in a way that I know she’d feel very happy about”.

The series, which is targeting the everyday business professional, will begin on Monday, August 16th with a blog post, and will follow suit consecutively every Monday. The posts will provide advice, tips, and tools to aid he or she with their business practice; rather it will be assisting with how to plan or execute, Samantha will touch base on every and anything dealing with the business world. In the future, Samantha plans on writing a book and would like to even further this series by turning it into speaking engagements in various cities. She is looking to continuing the building of her network and to seek out new clientele as well. In addition to all of the various ways this series would help you, with a very bold and straight to the point title, you can also expect the truth. Samantha would like to share her wealth of knowledge that she has gained over the years in hopes to help the next individual to achieve his or her dreams.

When asked about her new series, Samantha states “I feel excited to share my business knowledge with the rest of the world, knowing there are many people out there looking to fine tune their practice. It feels great to have had the training and experience that I have been given in my career, which allows me to pass along this knowledge and help others thrive within their own career.”

For more information on the “Ammo for Your Arsenal”, please visit the following link for a brief introduction by Samantha: http://www.relentlessconsultinggroup.com/2010/08/06/ammo-for-your-arsenal-series-coming-soon/. In addition, make sure to visit www.relentlessconsultinggroup.com and subscribe to the RSS feed to receive the new blog posts that will start occurring Monday, August 16th.

If you have any further questions about Relentless Consulting Group or about “Ammo for Your Arsenal”, please reach out to Samantha directly at Samantha@relentlessconsultinggroup.com.

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Dear Colleagues and Clientele,

I am excited to introduce what I have entitled the “Ammo for Your Arsenal” series to you. This is a series of business tips, ideas, and tools for Professionals in all industries to adapt and utilize within their day-to-day practices.

In business, it is important to consider your image at all times, how you engage and interact with others, service clientele, market yourself, and represent your company brand. The “Ammo For Your Arsenal” series will be supporting these points and additional points as well, with the goal of bringing tidbits of knowledge your way to continue assisting you in your professional endeavors. This is your ammo! While you’re out tackling the business world, this series will aid in bringing you wisdom for your arsenal so you remain prepared and ready. These tips and tools I have discovered throughout my professional experience and also have retrieved from my esteemed Mentors. I am pleased to share them with you, knowing they will be able to help give additional perspective to common, everyday business scenarios we all face from time to time.

Stay tuned..I look forward to engaging with you, hearing your feedback, and continuing to help you build your business as Professionals in Corporate America, Entertainment, and International business.

All the best,
Samantha

Igniting the media world with a digitally interactive interface; Tapwire Magazine and The Underwire Interactive Magazine (UIM) have brought to the forefront of Entertainment a media madhouse, designed to engage users and provide an exclusive experience. The magazines themselves are a digital phenomenon, not just a website with links, but each an interactive magazine providing sight and sound intriguing readers from cover to cover. Eliminating the use of paper, the magazines are completely digital and provide a personal experience readers have never witnessed elsewhere.
Recently creating history with EA Sports from the explosive Madden issue, Tapwire Magazine will once again energize audiences with the next episode; a Tech N9ne and La Femme Nikita issue that will feature artists Glasses Malone, American Yard, Maino, and more. Fans will be able to download the magazine or purchase a hard copy CD to enjoy. Stay tuned to the updates at www.tapwiremagazine.com.

In addition, The Underwire Interactive Magazine will be releasing the monumental Ice Cube issue on March 30th, a 20 year timeline celebrating the Entertainment icon and mogul. This issue will be outlining his career and journey since releasing “AmeriKKKa’s Most Wanted” in 1990. The UIM will give fans an up close and in-depth experience with Ice Cube, as this will be an interactive series dedicated to the megastar, and is full of surprises. Fans will be able to navigate the issue while enjoying music, interviews, video, and more.

Preview the Ice Cube issue here via VIDEO: The UIM Presents: Ice Cube Icons Issue

Not only do Tapwire and The UIM bring excitement, quality, and solid material for readers worldwide to appreciate, they also intertwine technology at a ground breaking level that is taking the Entertainment industry by storm. The team has given the world of media publication a facelift, interjecting a new visual and audio experience that is unique, intriguing, and exhilarating.

Visit Tapwire Magazine at www.tapwiremagazine.com Twitter: @tapwiremagazine
Visit The UIM at www.theuim.com Twitter: @theuim

On February 27th, 2010, San Diego will come together to support Christie’s Place, a non-profit organization supporting women, children, and families impacted with HIV/AIDS.  Hosted by Miles Aaron of the MI Group, Kim Moore of Christie’s Place, and sponsored by Tapwire Magazine; the goal for the evening will be to raise funds for the charity and bring the San Diego community together, while enjoying an evening at Boomer’s (www.boomersparks.com) of San Diego.  Attendees will be able to purchase bracelets and enjoy the park, with all proceeds going directly to Christie’s Place.  This is a great event to come out, show your support, and connect with the San Diego community.  Relentless Consulting Group will be in attendance and we look forward to seeing everyone out there.  Join us!  The charity event will take place from 6pm-10pm and is located at Boomer’s of San Diego:

6999 Clairemont Mesa Boulevard
San Diego, CA 92111-1001

For more information on Christie’s Place, visit www.christiesplace.org or contact Kim Moore, Outreach Coordinator at 619.702.4186

In business, positioning yourself as a unique entity is the lifeline to your future. Establishing your definition, your brand, in the world is vital. Whether you are a recording artist or CEO of your organization, your professional business brand needs to be one that will stand out. Why? It’s not only to have leverage on your competition, but more importantly, to establish your business as one that is recognized as the solution to your audience’s needs.

Branding sets you apart from the crowd. It is your identity. It should tell people something about you and convey a message instantly to people connecting with you for the first time, and also on a continual basis. With that considered, simplicity is key in branding your business.

Remember this: Consumers remember simple.
Simple. Clean. Effective. Original

For example: Nike or Apple –both are prime examples of branding that have carried on to be worldwide phenomenons, appreciated across the globe, and household names. You want to create a brand that will entice your target market and give you the ability to expand that market. Your brand needs to be one that is thought out and meaningful to you, the image you wish to portray, and the audience you are targeting.

When people can associate with your brand, they feel comfort in supporting it. Branding will carry forward with you in your business endeavors, whether you have primary focus on social media or face-to-face business. This is something that you will take with you as you continue building your business. The message your brand conveys is also critical when considering marketing campaigns, merchandising, distribution, expansion, and profit. Therefore, your brand is the umbrella in which your business operations will fall under, tied in as one cohesive unit.

Here are a couple key points to consider when creating your brand:
1) What is original and unique about your business? What is it you value (i.e. integrity, technology, customer service) and want to portray to your audience?
2) Who is your ideal target market? Do you have a specific demographic and, if so, what do you offer that appeals to that demographic?
3) Competition – Who are you competing with and what about your product/services sets you apart from their business/brand?
4) Distribution methodology? Have you created a marketing plan? How will you promote your brand? What marketing methods do you have in place?

While the above points are essential in the development and execution of your brand, your audience’s needs are vital to keep at the forefront of your operation. Your audience, when looking at your brand/business model, will ask “What’s in it for me?” This phrase is important to carry forward in all aspects of your business model. Creating a brand that tailors to your target market’s needs will assist in creating a roster of loyal clientele.

For further information on Relentless Consulting Group’s Client Service Packages for Branding/Marketing, contact us at info@relentlessconsultinggroup.com

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 13, 2010

Media Contact

Candice N. Mackel

Candice Nicole Public Relations

301.875.3224

Candice@CandiceNicolePR.com

 

Relentless Consulting Group Launches in San Diego, CA

Adding Much Expertise to an Industry in Need

 

San Diego, CA (February 13, 2010)- “Your Vision, Our Energy & Integrity”, that is what you can expect from Relentless Consulting Group which will launch February 13, 2010 in the San Diego area, but serving clientele nationally and internationally.

Relentless Consulting Group is the brain child of Samantha Casey who with multiple years as a Senior Business Manager has overseen and managed accounts with revenues of no less than multi-million dollars. When asked about how she feels about launching her new company she states “It has been a dream of mine to be able to start my own company and focus on assisting others, knowing I am utilizing my talents in a manner that will help others shine and to continue leveraging their careers forward. I am also looking forward to continuing to partner with my industry affiliates to cross-network and build together as a team where we can.” Most of the clientele that will be on the roster of Relentless is in the Entertainment Industry and in Corporate America.

The services that will be provided by Relentless Consulting Group are, and not limited to: Marketing/Branding, Corporate/Executive/Management Training, Public Relations, Project Management, Charity Work/Events, Event Planning and Human Resources Consulting. You will also be reinsured that no project is duplicated at Relentless. The company takes pride in developing each project to fit the client’s needs. Their practice is diverse and they welcome projects across many different demographics, blueprints, and needs.

Relentless Consulting Group possesses the quality and knowledge to help any individual or company grow into their full potential. Samantha would like to leave any future clientele which this statement; “I look forward to continuing to cultivate relationships and represent my client roster in the most executive and professional manner, ensuring their needs are exceeded, thus creating long-term relationships”. Relentless Consulting Group will definitely stand up to what their name embodies with the creativity, knowledge and dedication the owner Samantha Casey possesses.

For more information of Relentless Consulting Group or to contact Samantha directly for further information, please visit www.RelentlessConsultingGroup.com.

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