the dangling carrot
cultivating your business vision
Does Hard Selling Still Work?
Apr 15th
We recently were one of the keynote presenters at a Business Expo. Prior to delivering our “Introductory to Online Marketing” presentation, I attended a number of others offered throughout the day.
Some of the companies provided their “information dump” & then proceeded to push their business’ products and services. Like Traditional selling, it was “in my face” – with loud ad’s and “buy this now”, “there are only two left”, etc. Now that buyers have the “remote control,” they can turn off the volume on the TV, or record shows and skip the commercials, and even watch their favorite programs on their computers. Buyers like the control, they can watch what they want and when they want and they like their buying to be the same. They want the information they need, and they want it when they want it.
So this is why it surprises me when people hard sell from the stage, & I am even more amazed when people buy. Hard selling may still be effective for getting the first sale, but it can breed buyer’s remorse and is certainly not effective for referrals. Business today, just like in the past, is about relationships. But not like in the past, your competitors can easily be found by searching the internet. So establishing a relationship of trust while face to face and on the internet is fundamental to a long-term buying relationship.
SO – we say – Soft Sell – and you may miss out in the short-term, but long-term you will succeed!
How to Get (& Give) the Best from your Team
Apr 8th
I have always pushed myself to be the jack-of-all-trades – Even taking on responsibilities in areas of my weakness – GRAPHICS. I learned all I could and would even struggle for hours on a project that would have only taken one of our Graphic Artists 15 minutes.
I have since learned to optimize my strengths. Though we make sure that each team member learns at least the basics of each other’s jobs (like having the sales team understand FTP’s and how long it takes to modify images, or program what non-techies think is a “simple change”, etc). This ensures that everyone has an appreciation for their co-workers and their talents. And when our team members truly have an understanding of each other’s gifts, we not only work better, but we’re happier. Happiness breeds increased productivity and creativity, and our customers see the end results!
So – our solution to getting (and giving) the most from our team – is taking some time from the busy work schedule to learn all aspects of our business.
The 5 Love Languages – Are they Good for Business Too?
Apr 2nd
In case you are not familiar with the “5 Love Languages” – it was a best-selling book by Dr. Gary Chapman. He believes that there are 5 modalities of communicating love that are universal and that understanding them is the key to successful and happy relationships.
At Creative Carrot Studios, we believe these principles apply and are imperative to successful and happy business relationships:
- Words of Affirmation – Let your customer know that you understand their pain, see the value in their product/services, and that you appreciate their business
- Quality Time – Give your customer your undivided attention – when you are “with” them, be with them
- Receiving Gifts – Provide simples gestures or efforts like remembering their birthday or giving them a promotional item
- Acts of Service – Let your customers know about all of the services you are providing for them. Shame on you of you don’t tell them what you are doing and then expect them to appreciate the effort.
- Physical Touch – Instead of physically touching our customers, we communicate with them and let them know we are thinking about them even after we finish a project – with ideas or possible strategic partnerships.
Love your business!
Who Says a Pig Isn’t Pretty? Don’t Pass Up on a Small Opportunity just because you Missed a Bigger One
Mar 24th
This past weekend was the Deerfield Beach Pig Out in the Park Event. The Deerfield Beach Chamber hosts this annual Barbecue Contest and Community event. Sponsors received publicity in the Chamber collateral, coverage on the website, and an 8 foot Pig Banner to decorate with the company name on it. Everyone on our staff had previous engagements that weekend and could not attend – so we did not participate.
Just prior to the event, a chamber member, who had seen our business card, called and asked if one of our artists could paint the Pig Banner for Toshiba – the end result is the photo above. We weren’t able to be at the event, but our artist’s work was on display – and our company name was at the bottom of the banner. We researched what was current on the Toshiba website, and incorporated it in the design – eco innovation. We have received many comments on how great of a job we did and 2 calls already requesting that we do some graphics work.
SO – the big lesson for us, is that we will seize opportunities – good ones, of course, no matter how big or small. Good luck with your pigs!
How to Be Green in the WorkPlace
Mar 17th
In honor of St. Patrick’s Day – we are talking “green.”
I was speaking with a woman who is a keynote presenter to big organizations about being Green. Feeling like I was part of a exclusive group, I was talking about big changes in how governments regulate and how people live their lives & how the products they buy effect the environment. She gently told me that it is very important to talk about the little changes that people can make that can have a big impact on the planet.
So, I would like to tell you about some of the small green efforts that Creative Carrot Studios makes as we believe in environmental as well as financial sustainability:
- We print out as little paper as possible & when we do, we use both sides (unless going to a client) – I even use the back of my children’s homework & we buy recycled paper
- We set up hosting services with 100% wind /carbon offset
- When we purchase our own Creative Carrot promotional give-aways, we order green cloth bags or products made from recycled material (and BPA free)
- We Carpool whenever possible
- We use Green/enviro friendly cleaning products
- We use surge protectors and shut down our equipment at the end of the day
- We utilize www.freecycle.org – It’s a grassroots and entirely nonprofit movement of people who are giving (& getting) stuff for free in their own towns & membership is free
- We go to the following websites to determine if we are buying green:
- Eco-label.org decodes and evaluates the usefulness and validity of many labels that appear on consumer products in a variety of categories
- Energy Star provides standardized labels for water and energy efficient appliances and electrical and electronic equipment
- Fair Trade provides certification for staple goods and foods such as coffee, tea, honey, sugar, and bananas & works to ensure that sustainable farming and labor practices are used
- Green Seal certifies products including cleaners, paints, vehicle maintenance, floor cleaners, paper and print products, windows and doors, and lodging properties
- USDA Organic provides the background on the criteria that must be met in order for food to receive the USDA Organic label
- US Forest Product Stewardship Council website has a searchable product database for wood and paper and printed products that are independently certified as harvested from sustainably-managed forests
We would love to hear your Green Ideas!
How to Allow One Marketing Opportunity to Lead to Another!
Mar 11th
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- Creative Carrot Studios at the Homestead Grand Prix
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- Creative Carrot Studios at the Homestead Grand Prix
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- Creative Carrot Studios at the Homestead Grand Prix
One of our clients, Starworks Motorsport (Grand American Rolex Daytona Prototype Series), retained our services to create a logo for them which created a string of business and marketing opportunities for us. The logo – led to business cards, a website, designing racing shirts, and to having our logo on their racecar. Having our logo on the racecar means that:
- Race fans at the race track saw the logo!
- Sponors at the Race track saw the logo!
- The television audience saw our logo!
- Photos of the car including the one on this blog are all over the web!
Now – it is always going to be a gamble whether or not people are going to like our work (just like everyone else who puts out a product or service). But, when a real marketing opportunity arises, make sure that your business is in a position to take advantage of that opportunity – your website and marketing materials are current – and that you can handle the increase in activity to your site as well as an increase in sales.
And enjoy the Creative Carrots on the rearview mirror and the back of the car. Next – we are designing the wrap on the racecar!
How to Not Be Your Own Company’s Worst Enemy
Mar 1st
In these times of economic turmoil, people are taking comfort in many things – food, meditation, family, and in what they know in business– even if it is bad for them. Since we started our company, we found that our prospects and customers have been emotionally tied to their company name, logo, processes, system of bookkeeping, etc. But, in the last few months, we have seen these emotional ties turned to unbreakable bonds that are not making good business sense. Some people are becoming their own worst enemy in business.
When making business decisions, we recommend that your choices reflect what your customers want/need – not what you feel “connected to.” This is not easy – it took a few weeks for us to decide on “Creative Carrot Studios” as a company name as we were emotionally tied to it! Unless YOU represent your target market, put yourself in your customers’ shoes – what would they want, like and remember and use this information when making marketing, pricing, distribution, etc decisions.
Social Media Hits the Mass Marketers!
Feb 25th
I recently saw an online ad that said, “Earn $x.xx with social media.” Like every other product – social media is going through its life cycle. Web companies, marketing agencies, and web savvy business owners have not only realized the value of social media tools, but have also educated themselves on how to have a strong (but not intrusive) presence on the web. Unfortunately, this very powerful tool has reached the hands of the salesmen of yester year – the “Get it NOW, NOW, NOW” in-your-face marketers.
Social media is fabulous when browsers want to find your information. It is offensive, when the messages/information is being shoved down the browsers’ throats. So, be wary of “Social Media Experts.” Just like in all business, a few buzz words do not a social media expert make. Use common sense – if someone suggests that you post personal stuff about your dogs and how many times they ate today, or your high scores on the latest games – think about if this information is valuable. If it is worthless to you, it will probably be worthless to others, too!
You can do your own research – there is plenty of great information on the web about social media, there are true social media consultants, and take online or local classes on social media. Creative Carrot Studios is teaching a class on Social Media Basics & How to Use Social Media for Business on March 12 and April 9. For more info, contact Business Building Blocks 954.427.3880 or email info@creativecarrotstudios.com
Not Another Networking Event!
Feb 15th
This blog is for all of you business networkers out there who may be growing wary of the weekly networking grind. In order to stay “fresh” and to skip happily to a networking event, we attend only events where we can grow the business and grow personally. We recently attended a Professional Athlete Business Summit whose keynote speakers list included Shark Tank’s Kevin Harrington, and TLC’s and Chicken Soup for the Soul’s Lisa Nichols. The speakers were captivating and so were the attendees – I met a person who gives away (for FREE) browser software that protects children on the Internet.
We do still attend the occasional Business Expos, but we find that the quality of the attitudes of the people attending these events is not at the level (I am being polite) of those attending the “positive” message events – as the attendees actually want to be there. We also receive more customer appointments and referrals than when we attend networking business card exhcanges. The “fresher” the event presenters, the better we do as a business, and I hear THANK YOU’S instead of complaints!
Happy Networking!
Solid Business Plan a Necessity for Social Media
Feb 7th
New Management Solutions in Coral Springs, Florida (www.newmanagementsolutions.com) has requested that we provide a 2 class series on social media. The first class covers the Social Media Basics and the second, How to Turn Social Media into $. We have scheduled the classes with a 3 week break in-between them – allowing the student to apply what they learn at the primary class, and to do some research (yes – we give homework).
In developing our own business as well as the classes we understand how vital it is to really have a solid roadmap for the business to follow and a truly targeted market niche. People have all heard how important social media is to establishing credibility, engaging customers and prospects, and creating awareness and relationships. So when people learn how to use the Social Media tools – they want to use them right away. But unless – they have really identified their target audience, so they join the RIGHT groups, and hone their message, they may attract attention, but it may not be the right attention!
We strongly recommend that businesses either take a business plan writing course, have a professional review their business plans/ assist in writing the business plan, as the cost of making a bad first impression (a non-targeted one), is very expensive to overcome.