Strategy – big TRENDS of 2013 – MINDFULNESS
Strategy – big TRENDS of 2013 – MINDFULNESS Facts & Figures at a glance for people in a hurry! 2/ MINDFULNESS Why Mindfulness can be useful in Business ? What is its purpose ? We live in a consumer and high-tech society that overwhelms us with information and misinformation. We receive messages by e-mail, phone, social media, on billboards… Advertising is just everywhere (even in the bathrooms sometimes!!!). And everything goes faster and faster, our senses and brains are constantly solicited. We have to be successful professionally; we have to be a good husband/wife, a good father/mother etc… How much time is left to take care of our own body and soul? Not a minute. We have to be really willing to organize our lives and create some time for ourselves. Moreover, who’s conscious of the importance and necessity of taking care of oneself? It is in this context that, everyday, we have to make decisions. Sometimes even important, crucial decisions for our future. Having some time for ourselves is a real challenge, but it is necessary for everyone’s balance. Learning to stay focused on oneself, thinking about what we really want to do, what are the best decisions to make (decisions for the greater good for the greatest number of people – a Buddhist principle), what is the best attitude to have in such and such circumstances… It is anything but superficial. Indeed, making decisions, reacting to situations fast and influenced by our environment is everything but a guarantee for a sustainable success… Be it for your Human Resources or as far as your entire company management is concerned ! Same observation when it comes to family and wealth management issues. Lots of solutions emerge –or resurface- and fill more and more people’s existence. Meditation, Yoga, coming from the Far East… But there are also “Western Style” solutions: NLP, coaching, walking, personal development… Whatever method you are attracted to and that works for you, just go for it! Today, thanks to the Internet, information can easily be found, you just have to find the method that fits YOU well, and manage to create time in your schedule! A few examples of this trend getting stronger everyday: Athletes Who Meditate: Kobe Bryant & Other Sports Stars Who Practice Mindfulness http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/05/30/athletes-who-meditate-kobe-bryant_n_3347089.html A conference in the Silicon Valley gathering some of the largest companies in the world CEOs: Wisdom 2.0! http://www.wisdom2summit.com/ From February 21 to 24, 2013, was held the Wisdom 2.0 summit, where global companies where invited to think about Wisdom and Mindfulness (quality of presence and attention). The summit was a success: 1600 participants, compared to a few hundred participants for the first summit, four years ago. Another sign that a deep desire to build a bridge emerges between the world of wisdom and the business world. Many large U.S. companies – Ford, Google, eBay, General Mills, Twitter – already offer Mindfulness Training to their employees – on a voluntary basis, of course. This topic is also addressed in the Managers’ Training Programs. http://wisdom2.net/ One of the most popular French magazine also on top of this trend: The Express and its Business and Meaning Club. Indeed, the famous Express Magazine created a Business and Meaning Club with insert of special pages about social entrepreneurship and wisdom in its regular magazine. This move, on the part of the Express, speaks for itself regarding the importance that this movement is taking. https://www.facebook.com/DuBusinessEtDuSens A country which has always integrated Spirituality in the Business World: India! In India, they still have Gurus and Spiritual Masters! Yes! And it’s not a joke! “Guru” literally means that a “Guide” will lead you from darkness to light… Spirituality – and even religion… is already part of corporate life. In a really present and even mandatory way. With the advantages and disadvantages that it can represent. But we will not cover this vast subject here and now! My point here is that Indians have realized the importance of spirituality, mindfulness, and the meaning of business a long time ago and they still practice… So, when will you acknowledge and invest time in Body-Spirit balance? When will yoga or meditation take French corporations by storm? What do you think of this “new” trend? What is your experience? Feel free to share and enlarge the perspective of all readers! Thank you. Geraldine Cavagnon
Strategy – big TRENDS 2013 – VIDEO
Strategy – big TRENDS 2013 – VIDEO Facts & Figures at a glance for people in a hurry! 1/ VIDEO > The 2nd Search Engine after Google is YouTube. It is now of utmost importance to have a presence on both Google AND YouTube. Not only to get a good ranking position on Google, but also because more and more searches are done directly via YouTube, without even checking anything on Google. > The 4G arrives on the smartphones market, and videos are getting easier and easier to watch on smartphones. Therefore, they are more and more consulted: +19% video shares for 2013’s first quarter. And this is just a start. > Clients who watched a video about products on the internet are 144% more likely to add products in their cart than the other clients. > Online visitors who watched a video have an action rate 85% higher than the other visitors. Figures from last year that are still relevant: > 294 Million videos have been watched in France in February 2012 > +48,3%: increase of video’s advertisers. Marketers use more and more videos for their Communication strategy > +35%: increase of online video campaigns for 2012’s first quarter > 10% of published videos in the world have been watched from a mobile device, for 2013’s first quarter vs 4% one year earlier. That’s 20% more than the last quarter. 33% of these 10% come from tablets. Ooyala reveals in its Global Video index Q1 2013 study that half of online visitors’ connection time is dedicated to video. The most active sectors on this market are the mass market actors with more than 100 video campaigns launched on all French video devices. The Cinema/TV/Music sector is improving and became now the 2nd most active sector. The Health and Beauty sector is now in 4th position with 8 video campaigns, only for the first quarter. There are several video types. Examples: Corporate Animation Viral You have probably heard or read that video advertising is expensive… Well, good news ! YouTube created solutions to allow Small and Medium Enterprises to broadcast their videos too. Like on Google with Adwords, they created small budgets solutions: “You only pay when an internet user chooses to watch your video”. This is the TrueView system. There are 4 ways to introduce your video advertising on YouTube. But for each viewing formula, payment method stays the same: pay per view. No click? No views? Nothing to pay! Video now became an essential tool for every communication strategy, like demonstrated by figures and facts previously stated. Search engines multiply initiatives to allow every structure, no matter their size or budget, to broadcast videos. If today, you do not even question the fact that you must have a website or be present on social media, it is now obvious that video is a MUST ! The real question is: HOW? Which type of video to realize? How much money to invest? Where to broadcast? Which vendor to choose? GC&Cie is here to assist you in your initiatives. Contact us, we are at your service! Géraldine Cavagnon
How To Communicate on Social Media?
How To Communicate on Social Media? 10 ideas that work First of all, WHY communicate on Social Media? Nowadays, it’s good (euphemism: it’s compulsory) to have a website but it’s not enough. Consumers want to know who they are buying from. They want to know you, what are your values, they want to make sure you are an expert and you provide good customer service. Social Media are an exceptional opportunity to provide that kind of intimacy with consumers! WHICH Social Media choosing? Well, given the size of your Communication team or the time you can devote to Communication, my recommendation is to stick to the most popular social media: Facebook, Linkedin, Twitter. But of course, if you have the human resources and time, do not hesitate to be everywhere: Pinterest, Tumblr, Foursquare etc…! The more you are visible on many channels and frequently, the better it is for your SEO and the more prospects and clients you’ll get! So, here you go, 10 ideas of WHAT can you communicate on Social Media: 1/ Your projects, realizations: new product, new service (remember, nowadays you MUST reinvent your business to stay in the competition…) 2/ Results of your products / services: how they wonderfully benefit to your clients 3/ New market: you are now present in another country or city or new store… Always more presence, it shows how successful you are 4/ Trade shows where you exhibit: communicate before, during and after! Before and during to get people come see you, after to share the good results. 5/ Promotions, contests… Anything that keeps your sales dynamic! 6/ Conferences, networking events you go to. Opportunities to meet prospects and clients! 7/ Articles written on your blog or on your website that confirms your expertise in your domain 8/ Anything you read or see that can inform, help your customer. Any article related to your products/ services and that supports your way, is good to share. 9/ Articles you get in the press or on blogs 10/ Any new communication piece: new logo, brochure, etc… HOW to Communicate? > Remember to be personal. Include pictures of you, your team, your booth, your products/service while in use as often as possible. >Videos also attracts people on your post. Short videos if possible. >What conversational style adopting? Yours! Be yourself! But of course, make sure you make no spelling or grammar mistake and make sure you offense nobody with your words. We wish you lots of success: fans and clients on Social Media! Feel free to share your thoughts, questions or concerns and send us your comments below! Thank you. Géraldine Cavagnon
Art, Soul & Destiny… How To Find Inspiration?
Art, Soul & Destiny… How To Find Inspiration? I met Jill Steenhuis during an exhibition in a private house in Paris. The meeting was brief but the connection was instantaneously good. Jill is a very warm, big hearted and delightful women! At the time (November 2011), I was preparing a Networking event on Business, Art & Creativity and I offered her to participate. Her schedule didn’t allow it but we kept in touch from time to time. January 2013, Jill sends out the most beautiful and touching greetings message and announces the release of her book “Art, Soul and Destiny”. I replied to her greetings and to my great surprise generously offers to send me the book. Of course, I accepted and I received it a few weeks later! Wow! Thank you Jill! 🙂 Art, Soul and Destiny is a beautiful, thick, large book, the ideal size to enjoy Jill’s paintings to the fullest. It is an auto-biography illustrated with Jill’s amazing canvases. A wonderful, magical way to discover the journey of an extraordinary painter! In the silence and beauty of Provence’s nature, Jill describes how her senses are engaged, developed and so how her soul and art is. In the nothingness you find the core, the essence, and peace. Here is one of my favorite part, where Jill Steenhuis explains how she gets creatively inspired, how she interprets nature to trigger emotions through her paintings: “In my painting, the catalyst is nature – being immersed in it, my soul is moved to create. A multitude of elements envelop my being, embrace me, enter my soul. In the act of painting, my soul engages in a dialogue with nature. The mystery is before me. Silence – I must enter the realm of silence.” www.artinprovence.com “I must render, not state ; suggest, not complete; remain sensual, not intellectual; pure, not litteral; courageous, not safe and never misuse the powers I have been given. There are so many choices. Focus on one. Which one ? The one you love. How do I start – from the inside out or from the outside in ? Begin from within, placing your shadows to give birth to the light. In my silence I can hear. In my blindness I can see. In my spirit I can touch the mystery. ” Going through the pages of Jill Steenhuis’ paintings, poetry and deep wisdom; you will find pleasure for your eyes, for your heart and your soul. Almost a soft healing… Or at least you will feel a kind of soothing sensation. A feeling of her sweetness, of the peace she enjoys in her Provence sacred home probably… In short, Art, Soul & Destiny is a boog to read to nurture your soul! 🙂 So, now, you might wonder why do I share this on a Marketing blog? Because Marketers are also artists: Marketers are always challenged to keep being creative to promote companies, products and services. Artists are great models to learn how to be creative, where to find inspiration, how to vehicle emotions, how to find the essential of things. In Art, Soul and Destiny, Jill Steenhuis shows us that creativity, inspiration comes from observing nature and humanity. By embracing life with all our senses, we give our work a soul and we touch people’s hearts. By fully embracing a cause, you give it a soul, you can share what really matters and be remembered. Géraldine Cavagnon, GC&Cie
Marketing & Spirituality… How To Combine Both…
Marketing & Spirituality… How To Combine Both… Hello, Let me introduce myself and my business quickly… I’m Géraldine Cavagnon and this article is about my own Business: GC&Cie, a Marketing Business & Spirituality. First of all, what does GC&Cie stands for? GC is for Géraldine Cavagnon, me. Cie is: Companie for the network of independent people I’m working with. In other words, FREE people. -Yes, I believe in FREEDOM- A few months ago – or maybe more, I do not remember exactly – I posted a simple, “innocent” question on GC&Cie’s facebook page: “What do you think about Business & Spirituality”? Wooow… what a “touchy-feely” question, right ? ;-)… I love Politically Incorrect questions. They are the most interesting ones ! Raising true topics… I got a few answers… Some say it’s totally different, you cannot mix both. Some answered with the filter of their education, some with the filter of their religion… Anyway, it gave me the opportunity to observe the conscious level of people and I could clearly see they were not ready to hear my message. So I decided to let it go. BUT Today, I am in the mood to make a real answer. I finally feel like sharing my perspective on things. Some people will agree, other disagree but that’s all right. I just want to share my message and you will do whatever you feel like with it. So let’s start from the beginning… What is a business for? A business is an activity meant to provide a service or a product to other people using money as an exchange. The person doing the activity receives money and it allows this person to live being integrated in the society (rent or buy a home, buy food, pay the phone bills etc…) ; the people receiving the product or service are happy to enjoy something they would not do themselves by lack of skills or time. We, human beings, have the vocation to create, develop, organize life on planet Earth. We have a brain, a consciousness and it is our responsibility to keep it busy. [busy-business]. It is not the human nature to stay totally lazy and do nothing. I’m sharing this with you as I feel we tend to forget how wonderful work is, how important it is… We tend to forget what the meaning of work is and how meaningful it is to our lives. A business provides a product or a service, help to other people and it’s a beautiful reason to love working! What is spirituality? We, as human beings, have a body, a mind and a soul. Our body is the vehicle that is used by the mind and soul to accomplish things in the material world. -your vehicle is very important, take good care of it ! – Spirituality is NOT religion. Spirituality comes from your spirit. From you mind and soul. Spirituality is made of who you are, what you believe in. Your beliefs come from your education, religion, culture, people you met, your own experiences… From your beliefs as a body, mind and soul human come your values. What do you stand for? Business is made by and for people. People with their own value system. And these values determine how are they going to make business. Why do I believe in the importance of spirituality in business? I believe we need to create a better world. Smarter and fairer to everyone. I believe it is the responsibility of everyone to create positive improvements exactly where they are and now. What positive improvements ? Consciously try to do what we believe is the best for the maximum number of people in your environment (people and nature) and economically speaking. When we work with that mindset, everything we say and do becomes meaningful and important. It is so rewarding and it brings TRUE meaning to our lives, we become conscious of the positive impact we have on other people’s lives and on the entire planet Earth. (think about the butterfly effect) I know it might sound utopian… Well, OK. But people I know can witness that it is truly how I live, who I am. Even if, like everybody, I may have fears, doubts, feel discouraged at times; I am mainly focused on the positive side of things. Everyday I ask myself: How can I improve? How can I help? How can I make people feel happy? So, this is my message: please be conscious of what you do and say. Be conscious of how positive of an impact you can make on humanity and on the planet Earth. While doing business, think about it… Last but not least, I want to warmly thank all my customers and partners. These women and men who work hard every day (and sometimes nights) with passion to make a positive difference in this world, provide products and services that improve life on Earth. I want to tell them: YOU are LIGHTS. You do create a better world. You are the positive change you want to see in the world. It has been and it is an honor to work with you. THANK YOU Special thanks also to Reksider who inspired me to share this message. NAMASTE. Géraldine Cavagnon
Earn Your Independance! Create Your Blog
Earn Your Independance! Create Your Blog Saturday 30th of March, I participated to the seminar “Earn your independance” by Aurelien Amacker. Also Founder / Author of the blog “ReadMeImFamous” Aurelien has lots of experience as a blogger who makes money out of his blogs. What I liked the best about the seminar is the feedback from his and other bloggers’ experience as well as the figures on the methods that work and those that don’t. Moreover, Aurelien is quite involved in the American culture and knows what are the best practices and trends in the blogosphere… Thank you Aurelien Amacker, I got out of your seminar with lots of ideas to improve my offer and create new services! 😉 Stay tuned!… 😉
2500 only ! Promotional Emailing campaign
2500 only ! Promotional Emailing campaign In February, we launched a special offer for Start-Ups: 2500 euros only for the creation of a logo, a business card, a website and an express training on WordPress ! Emailing campaign results: Opening rate: 28,7% Clic rate: 1,8% Pretty good ! 🙂
Light… And Strong !!!
Emailing campaigns are an excellent method to maintain visibility amongst potential clients and increase sales significantly and sustainably. In January 2013, we sent our Greetings Cards below to around 2000 contacts worldwide… And the results have been astonishing !!! Opening rate: 45,9% Clic rate: 2,2%
Your Projects Are Our Passion!
Your projects are our Passion! Such is the object of our emailing campaign sent in November 2012 to 2500 of our contacts worldwide! Results: Opening rate: 23,7 % Clic rate: 9,3 % Excellent results for an emailing campaign!
GC&Cie’s Portfolio…
GC&Cie’s Portfolio… Find some of our Communication projects in the photo album of GC&Cie’s Facebook page! http://www.facebook.com/GCcie A brochure for Rosamon Energia, expert in Energy audits: We also created the social media accounts on Facebook and Twitter: http://www.facebook.com/RosamonEnergia http://twitter.com/RosamonEnergia A catalogue for the Cement plants equipments brand Cementeco: A website for the revolutionary portable solar panels HelioCase: www.heliocase.com …And the accounts on Facebook and Twitter: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Heliocase/347017698692941 The entire team of GC&Cie is at your service to answer all your questions! We hope to see you again soon! The GC&Cie Team
How To Join Forces & Multiply Your Results Abroad
How To Join Forces & Multiply Your Results Abroad Wednesday, January 18th, 2011 – 7:30pm First Avenue, Face au 119-121 Boulevard Pereire – 75017 Paris – Métro: Pereire A glass of wine and tapas are included. http://www.firstavenue.fr REGISTRATION online at: http://www.parispowernetworking.com/ NON MEMBERS: €30 MEMBERS: €15 WHY YOU SHOULD ATTEND: Unity is strength. How joining a group of 3-4 completing companies can help you develop your sales abroad. This is a very hot trend that brings results and that you cannot afford to ignore. It’s with this method that Veronique experienced her best successes in the trade missions she organized. With Veronique Poty, you will learn: – The benefits of joining a group of companies – What it takes to work – The 4 keys to success of such a group Moreover, Veronique will share with us numerous examples from her extended experience. An event that will surely inspire you ! ABOUT OUR SPEAKER Veronique Poty works as a Business Developer specialized in North America at the International Chamber of Commerce in Northern France (the Lille Region and 3rd exporting region of France). She assists French entrepreneurs in developing their sales in the United States and in Canada, mainly through one-on-one coaching sessions, the organization of trade missions or the organization of buyers’ trips to France. Veronique has 10 years’ experience in export sales development, and lived 4 years in the United States.
Art and Entrepreneurship
Art and Entrepreneurship November 23, 2011 at 7:30 PM – 10:00 PM Macchi di Cellere Gangemi law offices, Paris http://www.parispowernetworking.com/ How do businesses keep up with constant change and innovation and continuously find ways to reinvent themselves, innovate with new products and services? Similarly, artists must create and reinvent constantly: a true artist never creates the same piece twice. What is the Artist’s creation process? Jean-Luc Messin and Annja will share their experience to inspire you and your creativity as an Entrepreneur. They will also showcase some of their latest creations ! Wine and hors d’oeuvres will be served during the event.
Do you know The American Clubs?
Do you know The American Clubs? It’s the best source for American events in France and for businesses relating to France and USA. More than 6 000 people read it in France! If you need to advertize your business in France to the American community or to people who lived in the USA, it’s one of the best place to be seen ! Check it out: http://theamericanclubs.com/wordpress/ On The American Clubs website, you will also find GC&Cie referenced for Marketing Solutions: http://theamericanclubs.com/wordpress/classified-ads-business-in-english-useful-links/marketing-solutions/gc-cie/ And Power Networking events! To contact The American Clubs: contact@theamericanclubs.com
Money Is A Good Energy
Money Is A Good Energy Money is the materialization of the give and receive principle. “What you sow, so shall you reap”. When you pay for something, be conscious of the message you send to the universe: “I have abundance and I am sharing it”. The more you send this message to the universe, the more the universe responds to that vibration frequency with more abundance in your life. Whatever the message you send out to the universe, you get things back multiplied. So if you want more money in your life, do not be afraid to spend yours (for a wise purpose of course). BUT make sure your thoughts do not block the flow: have positive thoughts on money and make sure you are ready to receive money. When you receive money, be grateful. Tell your gratitude to the universe to extend the positive energy. Have your thoughts always aligned with what you do. So be ready to invest & receive proportionally !
Bring Your Visual Identity To Life!
Bring Your Visual Identity To Life! Business Schools and the best Marketers repeated for too long that modifying a visual identity, even a little bit, was the worse thing to do and even almost criminal… Today, things changed. To a statu quo era, we are now in an evolutive and dynamic era, where information Tsunamis are part of our daily life. How can we keep prospects and clients attention ? How can we keep a young and dynamic image ? (who wants to work with people still living in an old era, praising statu quo and old habbits ???!!!???!!??) With COMMUNICATION ! And even with revamping your visual identity! First of all, whatever your industry, product or service is, you need to communicate to create, develop and maintain your Brand Awareness. Having great products and services is good. Making sure your target knows you exist is better. Obviously, according to your industry, products and services, you will not communicate the same way, with the same tools and most importantly you will not choose to show your creativity on the same collaterals. Creativity must be adapted on a case per case basis. One thing is certain: no innovation, no creativity some way or the other, gives your prospects and clients the image of a stagnating company or worse, a declining company. Statu Quo equals death! So, take initiatives and dare communicating! Your logo and graphic chart are your visual identity. The colors, the design, the words that describe you and with which your prospects and clients recognize you instantly. (this level of Brand Awareness happens after having created and communicated in a way or the other with a certain number of collaterals (e-mail, mailing, trade shows etc…)) Innovate once in a while, surprise and you will captivate your prospects and clients attention much better and in a very positive way. Taking initiatives, adapting, creating, innovating in communication give a very positive image as these are now the words which will be used by your prospects and clients to describe YOU ! As a Marketing and Communication agency, it is very easy for GC&Cie to allow itself more frequent and visible changes than a medical products company for instance. (which doesn’t mean this company cannot be innovative. Only the communication tools, the degree of modification and the frequency changes). So we let it go and enjoy being CREATIVE! And to wish you a beautiful Summer, we created a new logo. Hopefully this will inspire you! GC&CIE WISHES YOU A GREEN AND SPARKLING SUMMER! To see the 3 logos evolution in a bigger size: http://www.facebook.com/GCcie
How To Network With American Professionals in 4 Steps
How To Network With American Professionals in 4 Steps Networking in the USA and networking in France offer many differences. How do Americans network? What is the process ? Why do they network? What are the Don’ts? It all starts with one simple commonly agreed fact: “People do business with people they know, like and trust”. Therefore, to get business, we need to know people, be likeable* and trust each other … Simple! Here are a few tips to help you shine during networking events in USA: #1 Networking is PREPARATION 1/ Have your business cards ready! 2/ You need to have a good elevator pitch… What is an elevator pitch? It’s a speech made of two to three sentences summarizing who you are, what you do now, what service, product or expertise you can offer to your interlocutor and how you differentiate yourself from others. 3/ Who is attending? Do you know or can you know who is attending the event? (Becoming a member of a Networking Organization usually gives you access to the list of all members and attendees. You can also sometimes see who is attending when the event is organized on Meetup, Linkedin or Facebook) If you do, then prepare. Select who you want to talk to, do a little research on the person and company and prepare your speech to grab their attention. 4/ Set goals. Like for any meeting, set the goals you intend to reach during this event. Who do you want to talk to ? Who is your target ? How many people do you want to meet? 5/ Prepare yourself mentally. Be happy to meet new people you can help. SMILE! #2 Networking is a 3 short steps PROCESS 1. First, introduce yourself with an elevator pitch. 2. The interlocutor introduces himself, the same way 3. You discuss to find out how you can help each other. Are you interested in each other’s business ? What is your ideal client ? Do you know anyone who would be interested or could help your interlocutor? During step 3, many case scenarios are possible: 1/ Best case scenario: you can help each other immediately and do business 2/ You know someone who can help this person, someone who would be interested in your interlocutor’s business. Then offer to make an introduction. 3/ You have tips, you know websites or organizations that can help your interlocutor: share immediately or write these information in a follow-up e-mail. 4/ You cannot help each other at all at the moment. Nevermind, it happens ! However, you can still CONNECT on linkedin! Grow each other’s network through Linkedin and keep each other in mind for the future. #3 Networking is a MINDSET A good network is like information: smartly used, it is POWER. It’s essential to keep in mind that business is done between PEOPLE. People with emotions, feelings, personal goals, people who have worries, challenges, hobbies… It’s easy to understand people, we all have the same main challenges. Being genuinely interested in people, listening to them, understanding them and offering to help will create a strong and beautiful relationship called FRIENDSHIP. Friends who help each other succeed in their life and own businesses. Introduce yourself as a RESOURCE they can trust and rely on. Offer SOLUTIONS more than arguments as to why they should do business with you. Keep in mind again: NETWORKING IS ALL ABOUT HELPING EACH OTHER NETWORKING IS ABOUT CREATING LONG TERM RELATIONSHIPS #4 Don’ts . Do not stick to one person during the entire event. You are here to connect to as many people as possible. . Do not tell your entire career path chronologically. Americans live in the present. They are interested in what can you offer now, and less in what you did in the past. . Do not get offended if someone sneaks in on your conversation. It’s normal. Welcome the person warmly and include them in the conversation. The purpose of the event is to make a first connection, not to start building a relationship. Building a relationship comes later when you do your follow-up e-mails or phone calls with people and offer to meet them again over coffee or lunch. . Be politically correct. “If you have nothing nice to say, don’t say anything”. Moreover, it is commonly accepted fact that talking about religion and politics at a first meeting is not appropriate. . Do not go to a networking event to sell yourself. Go with an open mind to offer advice and solutions without asking anything in return. Think About Building Long-Term Relationships In life, you never know who will help you, how and when. Networking is about helping each other to be successful. Last but not least, following-up with people is utmost important ! After the first connection during the networking event, contact people to have coffee, lunch or drinks to discuss more in depth, get to know each other and find ways to help. Keep the connection alive, never drop it ! Never burn any bridges! Geraldine Cavagnon *: to be liked: Dale Carnegie published a wonderful book in 1937: How To Win Friends and Influence People. A best seller even today. A must read !
3 Main Components to Focus On To Build A Good Website
3 Main Components to Focus On To Build A Good Website Before starting anything, it’s necessary to ask yourself a few critical questions: ->What is the purpose of building a website? ->How does it integrate the Marketing strategy of my company? -> What information do I want to provide? BE PURPOSEFUL Always Keep In Mind What Is Your Website’s Main PURPOSE The main purpose of a business is to SELL products or services and make money. Likewise, a website is a Communication tool which purpose is to help you sell. If your website is not an e-commerce website, its purpose is still to “sell” your company, products, services providing the best IMAGE possible through appealing graphic design and quality content. Your website is also an opportunity to COMMUNICATE with your clients and prospects. It’s a source of information for them but it is also an opportunity to engage a conversation with them. Finally, the whole point is to get your visitor to ACT: download a document, subscribe to your newsletter, call you, e-mail you, make a purchase if it’s an e-commerce website… Building a good website is all about applying the KISS principle (Keep It Simple Stupid ) through all components of the website. To build a functional and good website, you need to: #1 Have A Good STRUCTURE It’s a very important requirement to have a website that is well structured, organized… A good ergonomy is KEY ! What does mean an “Ergonomic” website ? -> Information classified in well-defined categories ->Limited number of tabs ->Limited number of columns Why ? ->To facilitate the visitor’s navigation ->The navigation is easier and faster to read, there more effective and agreeable: it gives a better experience to the user ->The information must be easy to find If the navigation is complicated, the visitor will leave the website immediately Example: http://crm.dynamics.com/en-us/ Generally speaking a website is structured with 2 columns. If the main page is composed of image slides then it is visually acceptable to have up to 4 column. Online visitors do not spend a lot of time on a website. They move on to other websites very quickly. The visitor should understand what you do, who you are and have a feeling of your professionalism from the home page itself and within seconds, preferably without having to scroll down. It means the messages must be really short, clear and simple. #2 Deliver Great CONTENT Great content means valuable information which is easy to read and understand. The point is not to win a prize in Literature; the aim is to get your point across and be remembered for your expertise. It’s about communicating effectively. In short, you want to: ->Communicate who you are and what you do, being easy to read and understandable by all ->Be perceived as an expert in your field: Write content that provides valuable information to the reader and sets yourself as an expert in your field. Use any certification, testimonials, PR pieces that supports your status of expert. ->Get the visitor to communicate with you, engage a conversation. Think interactivity integration, think Social Media ! #3 Create A Wow DESIGN What is a Wow Design? A design that translates your image as a company immediately: Dynamism, Action, Professionalism, Expertise, Openness, Happiness (who would do business with a team looking gloomy?), Interested and Caring for its customers… ->Colors must be harmonized ->Use of space must be well balanced ->The information must be easy to read, not cluttered Building a website becomes easier everyday and is getting cheaper and cheaper. However, building a good website, that leaves a positive image of your company and encourages traffic, is not as easy. It requires thought, a good strategy and some Communication skills… A company that has a good website and is present on Social Media reassures potential clients and does convert Leads into Clients. It’s worth spending time and money to make your website a Success ! Geraldine Cavagnon
6 Good Reasons To Be Fan Of GC&Cie!
6 Good Reasons To Be Fan Of GC&Cie! 1/ An « Executive Summary » Our objective: offer you an « Executive Summary » with Educational, Informational and Inspirational topics. No blabla, bullet points, facts, illustrations. 2/ Articles on Marketing ->Learn all the secrets Marketers do not want you to know… You’ll know everything you really need to know to market your company properly and easily 3/ Articles on Social Media ->Everything you need to know on Social Media: new features, new numbers, new trends etc… This communication channel evolves constantly. We keep track of its evolutions for you ! 4/ Articles on Sustainability ->We are going towards a sustainable way of life and working mode. It is essential for any company to be interested in those trends to know where the world is heading to and get inspiration from others that can be easily implemented on our own business. 5/ Articles on Personal Development -> To communicate effectively with your market, with people, it is fundamental to know Human nature. 6/ Miscellaneous Articles ->We give ourselves, at GC&Cie, the liberty to publish any news that we consider of Interest and inspiration for our community. Humor included. Everyone knows Humor is of general interest and very healthy… JOIN OUR COMMUNITY ON FACEBOOK & SHARE YOUR OPINION AND EXPERIENCE! https://www.facebook.com/GCcie/
Anyone Can Do Marketing!
Anyone Can Do Marketing! Nowadays, everything, absolutely EVERYTHING, can be learnt on Internet. And Marketing is easy! You just need to follow a PROCESS 1/ Think . Study your market and your competition . Analyze, organize, structure all information collected to put together a consistent Strategy and Action Plan with: required Human and Financial Resources, the ROI objective and a defined timing. 2/ Act . Tell what you do and Walk the talk . Set performance indicators for all actions . Measure the impact of actions lead 3/ Balance . Analyze what worked and what didn’t work. Understand why. . Invent new and better methods where results can be improved. What are the requirements? You need to: . Know the tools online and offline . Learn Marketing and Sales techniques . Keep informing yourself on the market of the company you promote . Keep informing yourself on the competition . Like or at least be interested in Marketing . Have ideas… LOTS OF IDEAS… In Marketing, you always need to come up with something new, different, better, innovative etc… . Know Human nature. To communicate effectively and touch people, you need to know them well! Last but not least: have or take the time to do all of that! So, when do you start? Where are you at in the process? Geraldine Cavagnon
3 Golden Rules Of Marketing
3 Golden Rules Of Marketing 3 essential points to develop your Brand Awareness and your Sales: A CLEAR & STRONG MESSAGE VISIBILITY FREQUENCY All of that on collaterals and communication tools adapted to your target! If you need some help to apply those principles to your company, CALL GC&Cie!
What 75% People Think Of Social Media
What 75% People Think Of Social Media Message to business owners who are not convinced -yet- they need to be present on Social Media: Nowadays, if you do not have a website, it’s like your business does not exist. If your business is not using Social Media, it’s like your company doesn’t wish to be transparent and engage a conversation with its customers and prospects… Is this the image you want to give to the world of your company? FYI, 75% of people think Social Media creates credibility and TRUST. Social Media reassures potential clients on the purchases they consider. Can you allow yourself not to create credibility and trust? If you are not convinced that you need to use Social Media for your company, CALL ME! Geraldine Cavagnon