Disqus - Friends of robertdempsey

Re: Follow for Good: Mashable’s #FollowFriday Favorites

Billy Mitchell — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 12:32:02 -0000

This is such a great idea. I am on the board for Genesis - A New Life,
a facilty in Atlanta GA that helps homeless parent(s) with newborns get help with shelter, healthcare, job training and placement on their way back to self-sufficiency. Now in our 15th year, Genesis is at a crossroads and in serious need of funding like so many other worthy charities. They do not have a twitter group but I will try to solve that next week. Good luck and thanks for supporting charities and good causes such as the ones you have listed in the blog.

If anyone would like more info on Genesis: www.genesisshelter.com

Re: EVENT POLL: Tapas Tweetup

Billy Mitchell — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 14:47:05 -0000

It was great. What's not to like about so many smart people and an open bar? Even bumped into Chris Brogan. As an attendee of the #mpb2b conference, it was a nice break after such a full first day of sessions. I liked the whole event. It was the first MarketingProfs event I've been to.

Re: Where In The World Does Print Advertising Fall In The 2010 B2B Marketing Mix? | BtoBbloggers

Billy Mitchell — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 20:17:28 -0000

Long live BtoB Magazine. Although I scan as many trade pubs as I can for the industries my clients are in, I look forward to reading BtoB Magazine. So it's the trade pub I know best and I'll use it for reference in the rest of my comment about "where print advertising will fall into the B2B mix".

In my opinion, the premier trade pub in any specific industry is a hub that delivers value beyond the printed pages. BtoB Magazine is to me, like Automotive News is to a franchise car dealer. The articles tell me what's going on and the ads do to. And it's all in one place. Well that's no longer true. I often go to BtoB's website, I subscribe to their e-news, I follow them on twitter and I'm even linkedin. Now that I think about it, I attended one of the best BtoB forums I've been to all year that BtoB hosted in Atlanta. They had a forum of CMOs from several leading Atlanta companies (all three very innovative B2B marketers) that was fantastic. Now I may be unusual among my peers but I don't think so. I follow many B2B marketers on twitter (both client-side and agency-side) and almost anytime of day I check the stream, there's another RT @BtoBMagazine. And it's always a link to something worthwhile.

How will page counts hold up? And are their ad sales adequate? I don't know. But I sure hope business is good for BtoB and I predict that their content will keep them alive and that all the new ways to share it (and sell or profit from it in some way at some point) will help them thrive.
As someone that has a role in advising clients on when and where to advertise and promote, the trade pubs for their industry are a critical component of most plans. Sure budgets were slashed this year, but we'll all need those pubs as part of the rebound and budgets will be back. The good news about the share going to electronic is that the trade pubs will get some of that too because their content is a such magnet.

So for all the other entrepreneurs out there that also love the best trade pub in your industries, let's hope the future is bright for them. They sure shed light on a lot of opportunity for us.

Re: BtoBbloggers | Providing Useful Information On B2B Marketing, Social Media, Branding, SEO, and PR.

Billy Mitchell — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 14:14:00 -0000

From what you describe, I'd say Izzy is in good hands and well on her way. If I had any words of advice it would be these: "Never let yourself become a prisoner of your own rountine" and "question everything". Have her polish up that resume and give me call. We're always looking for off-the-chart-smart talent and she sounds like our kinda girl.

Re: Is blog Still A Four Letter Word In Your Office? | BtoBbloggers

Billy Mitchell — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 16:41:16 -0000

"Blog" is a word heard a lot lately at MLT Creative. We are still developing our approach but I have encouraged every idea person here and all of us that get paid well to think about B2B Marketing, to contibute to our blog.*

The only four-letter words related to the effort are the kind I shouldn't type here. But that was just when we were getting started. It's now becoming a more natural part of how we think about our business and share those thoughts. What we've learned, and continue to learn, is helping us help our clients develop a strategy and process for adding blogs to their B2B marketing mix.

*Everyone at MLT is an idea person and we all get paid well to think.
Here's our blog: http://www.mltcreative.com/...

Re: This is the future of social media

Billy Mitchell — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 11:09:00 -0000

I am only on my first cup of coffee on a Monday morning as I am thinking about your predictions. I can’t see how any of these points could be impossible but as a contrarian, I hope humanity isn’t herded towards any of these developments without plenty of rebels having a voice.
I think we are headed for trouble if individuals lose control of their decisions through fear, intimidation, propaganda, oppressive laws, loss of hope or lack of options.
Like any professional marketer, I am also a consumer, so all of the developments you envision that make it easier to do both are exciting, it’s their impact on politics that concerns me the most.
Of all of the developments you list, the one thing that the combination of changes may impact the most is “the voting booth”. I hope that voters of the future look back at the last few U.S. elections and see what was the beginning of the end of out-of-control campaign financing, long lines, limited access, confusing ballots, hanging chads and paperless voting machines.
The optimist in me hopes for more honest and less expensive communication channels for our political candidates, better ways for voters to gain knowledge and influence leaders, and less opportunities for corruption and manipulation of the process.
With so much information to work with, political parties and marketers of consumer goods, healthcare etc. will have an evergrowing advantage if not balanced by the collective power of the individual vote, or purchase (whether cast through an internal thought impulses or keystrokes).

Re: This is the future of social media

Billy Mitchell — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 16:28:15 -0000

I have been thinking about your blog since commenting earlier so came back to check out the comments.

In the past I've considered my digital record as just another needle in a giant haystack and couldn't imagine who would be interested enough to zoom in on me. Now I realize that everyone's needle is on a glass under a microscope.

Let me just say I won't be running for public office any time soon.

Re: Stepping Away From The Social Media B2B Hype

Billy Mitchell — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 16:28:00 -0000

I am finding almost the opposite attitude about Twitter among my B2B marketing clients Mark.

But a marketer being either too eager or completely disinterested present similar challenges and / or opportunities. Your list will help with those "fools rush in" types, but I am just letting my disinterested clients idle because I just don't think it's time for them to dive in with doubts, negative opinions or no interest at all.

I've only been active on Twitter for a year and it's helped me learn more about the business of B2B Marketing. And since my agency markets our services to a business audience of CMOs, Marketing VPs and Marketing Directors I know that what works for our new business efforts will often work for my clientele of B2B marketers.

Twitter works. I know because the results I've seen are measurable.

1) I'm getting smarter everyday from what I learn from the expert B2B marketers I follow on twitter (including you)

2) Twitter helps our agency bloggers "promote" new articles and twitter friends help spread the word. The more we tweet and blog, the better we are at providing valuable content, telling stories and telling OUR story. It's making us better communicators and listeners at the same time.

3) It's having a positive impact on our website traffic results and SEO

4) I now have a network of peers I didn't even know 12 months ago. It is invaluable to me now.

5) We can trace 3 new account wins (and several RFP invitations, including a few still in play) to our activity on social media, including twitter. Now it was just part of the process, but a very important part. The start.

Along with the list of ideas you just provided, and the ROI my agency can show to any client, I may be about ready to start nudging some naysayers.

Re: Eight lessons I’ve learned from Twitter

Billy Mitchell — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 11:58:06 -0000

Mark, I will always remember 2009 as the year that started more grim and dim from a business perspective, than any since our B2B marketing agency began in the mid-eighties. But I will also remember it as the year I saw the light.

In my case, it was the lightbulb that wouldn't go away after reluctantly reading Seth Godin's book TRIBES.

I at least had enough sense to know I wasn't ready to "lead" anyone on twitter so I started by following. Lucky for me, I found leaders like you that were willing to share ideas, great questions, better answers, and even lessons learned from your mistakes.

I'm not sure I would have made it past several bouts of "twitter fatigue" (term I think my strategist @patrick_maness invented). Learning from you and other marketing professionals I follow on twitter, I even endured waves of half-dressed pornbots, and swarms of work-from-home-500-followers-a-day-make-money life coaches that all wanted to follow me for some reason.

What I've learned most of all from twitter this year is to never quit learning. I learned that the best and brightest on twitter will also follow back. I also found hundreds of marketers and creatives that have an ongoing passion for their profession, interesting opinions and open minds.

Thanks to twitter, and thanks to you for helping this year end as one of our brightest my friend. I'm looking forward to 2010.

Have a happy holiday and a wonderful new year!

Re: Eight lessons I’ve learned from Twitter

Billy Mitchell — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 16:37:00 -0000

OK, first of all, I may be on the threshold of breaking lesson number 8, but I didn't want to see this discussion end just yet.

I am too impressed by Mark's list and inspired by today's article from @copyblogger to let this twitter course end at just 8 lessons.

I'd like to add to Mark's list and would really enjoy hearing what others that follow him would add too. Sure, he's a genius futurist, humorist, braniac and overall marketing maniac, but he doesn't really "know it all" does he?

My lesson number 9, if I was subbing for Mark, would be:

9. Write with a purpose: pause, proof, and then post.

Surely we can get this list to 12.

Re: Does Amanda Chapel matter?

Billy Mitchell — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 11:09:50 -0000

Before reading your interview with Amanda Chapel "she" didn't matter to me at all. I'd never heard the name but from the background you provided, the interview and the commentary, I know it now.

I am familiar with AdContrarian and think his raw and sometimes rude comments are a counter to what can occassionally be a "mutual admiration society" exchange. I'm probably way too low profile to draw the wrath of either Amanda or the AdContrarian.

If it ever happens, I don't know whether it will be a badge of honor or mark of shame. Maybe a bit of both.

Re: Ten ideas for the beginning blogger

Billy Mitchell — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 15:42:03 -0000

Man, once again I've been trumped by the master. Oh you had words of wisdom to share as usual, but I'm talking about the photo. To type LOL doesn't do justice to the fact I laughed out loud.

And I thought that photo I had on my guest post at SavvyB2B was funny. That bare butt cracked me up.

Re: No tweets. No bio. 7000 followers. WTF.

Billy Mitchell — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 11:23:38 -0000

Somebody had to ask this question and you are the right man for the job. I'm reading comments now, for answers.

It's even more curious when they have thousands of followers and a generic avatar.

For a long time I was taking the step to block anyone that didn't have a website or legit bio and a real stream of commentary. Lately, if they appear harmless and not spambots, I just fail to follow back.

My biggest concern is spammers using my twitter lists to spread their snake oil and somehow using my name in the process.

Hopefully twitter is working to help us avoid that problem but I've actually seen my twitter name attached to offers to "test your I.Q" for example.

I am going to follow all the comments of this post to look for answers.

As usual, great question Mark.

Re: Top Seven Tweets Of The Week – Jan 15th

Billy Mitchell — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 11:15:55 -0000

I just barely made it. What a great start to the first part of 2010. This list is one I don't mind being last on at all. Thanks Jeremy, and seriously thanks for this site. A visit here is as much a part of my work day as that vitally important first cup of coffee.

Re: 5 Steps to Keep the Sales Funnel Flowing

Billy Mitchell — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 15:42:57 -0000

Trey,

This is all excellent advice. Your footnote about the concept of a sales funnel possibly being outdated is interesting too. I think the funnel still exists for most B2B marketers, it's just evolving.

Transitioning a prospect through the sales cycle logically involves sequential steps which the funnel model helps illustrate. But a conventional funnel is a rigid structure (and process) and today funnels must be flexible and transparent.

Whether it's a one time purchase decision, repeat buyer, or long-term contract decision, the customer is now in the driver's seat more than ever. A prospect may be engaged in your funnel down to the last step and then, after being fully educated by your information, check options with a competitor and slip away.

But that works both ways and the supplier with the most accessible information, if it's honest, accurate and viable, will win most of these comparisons. In other words, if you're seeking more new customers, make it easier for them to find you than your competition and have all the most relevant information available at every point in your funnel as the prospect opts further in.

A sales process may be closed-loop but prospects are no longer a captive audience. Before making any serious purchase, especially in B2B, any prospect is going to check their options and probably test your pricing, promises and proof.

Anyway, that's how I see it and I agree with all your points, especially number 5.

Re: How to become a CMO in 10 tweets or less

Billy Mitchell — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 18:20:18 -0000

Mark, This success story is an excellent case study for B2B marketers. For as long as the new business relationship remains mutually beneficial, the ROI is unlimited.

I don't know many people in marketing that like wasting time. Marketing experts like you that invest your time in social media wisely aren't just doing it for the fun of it, you're obviously seeing results.

Thanks for sharing!

Re: LinkedIn: A goldmine of business opportunity

Billy Mitchell — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 11:09:03 -0000

This is a timely reminder for me. I've let a little dust gather on my Linkedin account lately.

As you say in the comments, I may have "platform overload" which really means I just need to adjust my scan and/or filtering method.

I'm in many great groups and recieve daily feeds full of interesting discussions. It's often TMI. Instead of letting them come and go without scanning them, I need to make more of them weekly feeds and make time to engage.

Thanks for the wakeup call!

Re: It’s Okay To Look Before You Leap: 6 Questions To Ponder Before Plunging Into Social Media

Billy Mitchell — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 12:08:36 -0000

"What's the worst that can happen...", "500 year plan", h'mmm. Maybe there is a book title here somewhere.

Social Media for B2B Marketers. The 500 Day Plan. Subtitle: What's the worst that can happen without it?

A couple of chapter headings: The 500 Minute Plan. The 500 Hour Plan.

Just thinking out loud.

Re: Encouraging social web in the workplace may have side benefits

Billy Mitchell — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 18:45:16 -0000

Now you have really opened up a great topic along with a big can of worms. I am a complete convert. As someone that believes in deep, deep focus and concentration while being paid a lot of money for what you think more than what you do, it used to drive me crazy to see our younger staff distracted by their various social toys. Now I know better and now I understand. As Kimmo says, it's really about meeting goals or not. Let me just say our policy is now wide open and we trust everyone to be balanced and professional in their use of time and we are more productive than ever.

Re: The End of The Trust Agent?

Billy Mitchell — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 19:09:45 -0000

Mark,

It seems to me that a few of those commenting here missed the question mark on the heading for this article and took it as an obituary for The Trust Agent. I didn’t see it that way at all and like that you asked the question.

Few would argue that Chris Brogan is a pioneer and expert authority on social media. So when did it become so controversial to simply question authority? It seems to me your article poses interesting observations and questions and it only adds to the level of interest in the subject. I like that Chris commented on your blog and although somewhat defensive, engaged in a fair discussion.

I just finished Trust Agents but I first learned to appreciate Chris Brogan as a leader by attending an Inbound Marketing Summit last year and being almost overwhelmed at all the various experts giving back-to-back 20 minute presentations of mind-opening ideas.

One question I asked myself during the conference was “how do these people make any money?” I didn’t ask anyone speaking because I just assumed they weren’t doing it for their health and besides, I’d paid a reasonable fee to be there (and felt it was well worth it).

I could see so many ways to apply what I was learning to growing my own business and those of my clients there was no doubt in my mind I was going to make money from inbound marketing as a service provider.

Like you, I hope Chris Brogan makes all the money he can but selfishly hope to keep getting as much as possible for free. His speaking fee is a lot better investment to most businesses than what retired presidents and CEOs charge for reshaped history lessons.

If Geoff has the patience to keep reading (did you really read it Geoff?) and commenting on your blog, he will soon learn you are a very fair and interesting expert yourself. And I would like to see more discussion and debate between you and Chris.

Isn’t that a good thing?

Re: Is bigotry good for business?

Billy Mitchell — Wed, 24 Mar 2010 14:53:54 -0000

Unless the success of your business depends on selling to biggots, I don't think bigotry is good for anything. And I don't think much of any business selling to biggots either.

As for obscenities, slander and outright lies, there's really no accounting for bad taste, weak minds and haters but there are, thank goodness, scroll bars and delete keys plus the freedom to avoid most of the unpleasant or misleading trash and noise of any source that does a poor job of moderating or filtering out the hatred.

Great debate is such a wonderful thing either participate in or enjoy as a spectator it would be a shame if the idiots overtake the open forums. As for the online or print forums run by those I think are idiots, I try to avoid them altogether.

But for the sake of arguing one side or the other in this discussion, I agree with you that not allowing total anonymity is a great idea. I believe it would eliminate most of the problem.

Re: Meet the captain of the world’s first viral marketing success

Billy Mitchell — Thu, 25 Mar 2010 10:06:04 -0000

Thanks for the insights on this unforgettable piece of viral marketing history. As a marketing professional in Atlanta, I've heard a recap on this from the perspective of the Social Media Director at Coca-Cola during a panel discussion last year. Although they were caught by surprise with this crazy thing and slower to realize the positives, I think they certainly do now and for a global brand with so much at stake, I think they're now much more flexible, creative and open-minded with all their social marketing - including viral.

Man, it's just a good thing no one put their eye out.

Re: Why comment on a blog? Do it for the money.

Billy Mitchell — Thu, 01 Apr 2010 15:16:18 -0000

If ever there was a blog post to leave a comment on, this one is it.

I followed you for a while before commenting but that first comment got a response (as do most, if not all on your blog) and it didn't take long to find some common ground to build some business on.

You spark new ideas every day but the comments and your responses help you make them even better.

That's all I have to say for now.

Re: How do you push yourself out of your social media cage?

Billy Mitchell — Tue, 13 Apr 2010 08:55:07 -0000

Mark, It makes me feel a little better about my own learning limitations to see I'm not alone. The problem certainly isn't a lack of useful information, it's the difficulty in digesting it all.

My approach probably wouldn't be very helpful to others because it is barely working for me.

All I can really add to this discussion are some words of encouragement that is probably just stating the obvioous:

Too much useful information is a great problem to have.

I'll add two more mottos I find useful in this situation and somewhat relevant to the little bear's self-imposed 12'X 12' cage.

1) Never let yourself become a prisoner of your own routine

2) Never quit learning

It's the best time ever to be in the business of marketing and communications and although it's exhausting it's equally exciting.

Re: A powerful story: Simple, but not simplistic

Billy Mitchell — Thu, 15 Apr 2010 19:21:00 -0000

Mark, This video gives me ideas. Professional marketers and communicators have a wonderful gift. We can make a great living helping our clients tell their stories and that helps them build their businesses. But we can do more. Where others are able to donate money and time to charitable causes, we can do that and much more. We can help them tell their stories. And those stories are powerful, inspirational and REAL.

I'm reminded by this video just how impactful and helpful good storytelling can be for a great cause.

Disqus - Friends of robertdempsey

Re: Follow for Good: Mashable’s #FollowFriday Favorites

Re: EVENT POLL: Tapas Tweetup

Re: Where In The World Does Print Advertising Fall In The 2010 B2B Marketing Mix? | BtoBbloggers

Re: BtoBbloggers | Providing Useful Information On B2B Marketing, Social Media, Branding, SEO, and PR.

Re: Is *blog* Still A Four Letter Word In Your Office? | BtoBbloggers

Re: This is the future of social media

Re: This is the future of social media

Re: Stepping Away From The Social Media B2B Hype

Re: Eight lessons I’ve learned from Twitter

Re: Eight lessons I’ve learned from Twitter

Re: Does Amanda Chapel matter?

Re: Ten ideas for the beginning blogger

Re: No tweets. No bio. 7000 followers. WTF.

Re: Top Seven Tweets Of The Week – Jan 15th

Re: 5 Steps to Keep the Sales Funnel Flowing

Re: How to become a CMO in 10 tweets or less

Re: LinkedIn: A goldmine of business opportunity

Re: It’s Okay To Look Before You Leap: 6 Questions To Ponder Before Plunging Into Social Media

Re: Encouraging social web in the workplace may have side benefits

Re: The End of The Trust Agent?

Re: Is bigotry good for business?

Re: Meet the captain of the world’s first viral marketing success

Re: Why comment on a blog? Do it for the money.

Re: How do you push yourself out of your social media cage?

Re: A powerful story: Simple, but not simplistic

Re: Is blog Still A Four Letter Word In Your Office? | BtoBbloggers