Benefits vs Features: Inspire The Audience

August 31, 2011 by

 

This is Part Five of a Five Part Series in which Butch Stearns and Tyler Pyburn Discuss the Differences Between Benefits and Features in Blogging.  Butch Stearns is the C.O.O. of The Pulse Network, and the Host of Sports Buzz on The Pulse Network.

Find Ways to Inspire Your Audience

Inspiring someone through your content sounds great on paper, but it’s easier said than done.  Each one of your readers draws their inspiration from different sources, and your job is to figure out how to inspire your target market.

The best way to ensure that your content is going to inspire your target audience is to tell a good story.  Your goal is to be a good storyteller.  If you tell good stories that are relevant to your readers, chances are you’ll begin to inspire them.

YouTube Preview Image

 

To Watch The Whole Series, Please Check Out The Playlist Here.


Filed Under: General

TPN Revenue Model – Growing Revenue

August 31, 2011 by

This is part five of a five part series between Tyler Pyburn, host at The Pulse Network, and Colin Bower, Chief Revenue Officer at The Pulse Network, as they explore the concept of The Pulse Network’s revenue model.

Here at The Pulse Network, we’ve not only grown significantly as an entire company, but also have added growth to our revenue stream as well.

As our economy still seems to be recovering from the significant blow it has taken over the past several years, many people are concerned whether it’s even possible to grow your companies revenue stream in an economic crisis. I simply say you absolutely can because we’re doing it right now. At The Pulse Network our first step, when dealing with clients, lies on establishing a relationship, as in any standard sales acquisition. Then we provide our client with something called a proof-of-value. The proof-of-value, whether it be 90 days, 120 days, or even a multiquarter, should always end with quantifiable measures; a quantified number of leads generate a quantified number of customers converted or qualified, or even just a measure of retention.  A proof-of-value lets the customer put a specific financial value on the what we’ve done for them as a service.

Another step you need to take is to be willing to get into pilot budgets in order to demonstrate that proof-of-value that you’ve previously discussed with your client. If you’re not sure of the service you’re bringing to the table for your partner, then it’s not going to work for you. In our case, at The Pulse Network, we’re able take the proof-of-values and get into the long term contracts (90 days, 120 days, or multi-quarter).

When you understand your business and know what works, then you’ll know what value you can add so you won’t be afraid of demonstrating that through a proof-of-value. This is why The Pulse Network has been so effective in generating increased and sustainable growth on the top line.

 

YouTube Preview Image

 

Tyler Pyburn is a host at The Pulse Network and can be reached on his twitter or e-mail, tpyburn@thepulsenetwork.com

Colin Bower is the Chief Revenue Officer at The Pulse Network and can be reached on his Twitter or email, cbower@thepulsenetwork.com

 

Filed Under: General Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Innovating in a Shaky Economy, Experimenting with Business Model

August 30, 2011 by

 

This is Part Four of a Five Part Series with Tyler Pyburn, Host at The Pulse Network, and Stephen Saber, Chief Executive Officer at The Pulse Network, on how to innovate during a shaky economy.
 

Like I stated in my previous post, this is a discussion on an article by Stephen Wunker on the Harvard Business Review’s Blog Network titled, Five Rules for Innovating in a Shaky Economy,

 

Experimenting with the Business Model

A business model cannot be a static notion within a company. Exploring a business model may come off very risky to some but when the customers are facing economic challenges and are being forced to change their spending habits it becomes the best time to experiment.   A rough economy creates a change in what customers expect a company to offer and if you as a CEO are willing to mess around with your business model then the sky is the limit.

 

YouTube Preview Image

 

To finish up the series, I reveal how managing your business like you manage your own life can help rethink what you are doing.

 

Check out the entire series from start to finish, Part One, Part Two, Part Three.

 

Think I missed something on the post?  What some more advice on how to innovate? Let me know by commenting on this post, or by reaching out to me on e-mail: ssaber@thepulsenetwork.com
Filed Under: General Tagged With: , ,

TPN Finance, Vacations and CEOs

August 29, 2011 by

 

 
Tune in every Thursday at 9:40 a.m. ET for TPN Finance where Stephen Saber, CEO of the Pulse Network, roams every topic a business leader could encounter from business ethics to social media’s ROI.
 

 

Vacations and CEOs

via geekpreneur.com

 

A long weekend is one of the most sensitive issue a business leader will ever have to deal with.  Everyone needs to relax and reset however it seems that everyone should not include a CEO.  As a CEO, your job is to be a leader that your people can rally behind but that character is hard to portray when they are picturing you on the golf course.  Rosabeth Moss Kanter wrote a fascinating article on the Harvard Business Review Blog Network titled, Should Leaders Go on Vacation, about what type of message you are sending when you take a break.

 

via thecontentsquad.com

On this Episode of TPN Finance, I interject my advice on some of the topics raised in the article such as when is the right time for a vacation and how you can stay connected while relaxing.  Below is a three minute highlight clip from the show:

YouTube Preview Image

Or watch the full video here

Please feel free to comment on the post or reach out to me on e-mail: ssaber@thepulsenetwork.com

Filed Under: CEO Corner Tagged With: , , , , , , , ,

TPN Revenue Model – Inbound Marketing Summit

August 29, 2011 by

This is part four of a five part series between Tyler Pyburn, host at The Pulse Network, and Colin Bower, Chief Revenue Officer at The Pulse Network, as they explore the concept of The Pulse Network’s revenue model.

 

As every company seems to be transitioning to the digital age, The Pulse Network uses their traditional event, Inbound Marketing Summit, to flex their revenue model through registration.

September 14-15, 2011 at The Sheraton Boston

Typically a standard sponsorship package at a face-to-face event would get you a booth, a logo on the brochure, and the chance to network your brand at the actual event. In today’s market, sponsorship packages at traditional  face-to-face events include a whole lot more. Not only are we creating video with our sponsors in advance, so they can go out and attempt to engage with their target audience before the event, but we’re also doing something called a fireside chat, which gives the sponsors a chance to have conversations with their customers at the event in front of a camera. Then after the event we’re distributing these fireside chats through either our digital network, which we’ve created just for our sponsors, or their own website, blog, and any other channel they feel the majority of their target audience for this event exists.

When thinking about these new sponsorship packages you have to think of what it could potentially do to your sales cycle. Ordinarily you leave an event and you send a group of emails to different a specific number of clients you’ve met. Now, you can leave the event with a two-three minute post-produced video clip of you talking with that customer. Whether the conversation points are targeted messages, fun talking points, or even messages that are relevant to specific parts of their communities, these customers will push these videos out to through different platforms to hit their entire target audience.  By customers sharing these videos, sponsors will not only deepen their relationships with their clients, but will also extends the number of touches that you have on your sales cycle so your conversion rates go up.

 

YouTube Preview Image

 

 

Tyler Pyburn is a host at The Pulse Network and can be reached on his twitter or e-mail, tpyburn@thepulsenetwork.com

Colin Bower is the Chief Revenue Officer at The Pulse Network and can be reached on his Twitter or email, cbower@thepulsenetwork.com

 

Filed Under: The Pulse on Marketing

Benefits vs Features: Give An Opinion

August 29, 2011 by

 

This is Part Four of a Five Part Series in which Butch Stearns and Tyler Pyburn Discuss the Differences Between Benefits and Features in Blogging.  Butch Stearns is the C.O.O. of The Pulse Network, and the Host of Sports Buzz on The Pulse Network.

Having an Opinion Doesn’t Mean Disregarding The Readers’ Take

A great deal of making people care about your content and continue to come to your blog is to make it about them.  The entire root of the benefits vs. features conversation centers on figuring out what your consumer can use, and catering to him or her as personally as possible.

That being said, you content won’t be valuable without a little bit of you in there as well.  That’s where giving your own strong opinions in your blogs comes into play.

YouTube Preview Image

 

A key point to remember is that giving your personal opinion doesn’t necessarily have to mean that you’re being selfish, or isolating the reader.  Giving your opinion can serve the purpose of dragging the reader in on an even more personal level by forcing them to become part of the conversation.  When a strong opinion is presented, people are going to land on one side or the other, and they’ll react to it.  Whether they love it or hate it, they’ll feel something, and be compelled to be a part of that conversation.

 

To Watch The Whole Series, Please Check Out The Playlist Here.


Filed Under: General Tagged With: , , ,

Innovating in a Shaky Economy, Add Services

August 26, 2011 by

 

This is Part Three of a Five Part Series with Tyler Pyburn, Host at The Pulse Network, and Stephen Saber, Chief Executive Officer at The Pulse Network, on how to innovate during a shaky economy.
 

Like I stated in my previous post, this is a discussion on an article by Stephen Wunker on the Harvard Business Review’s Blog Networktitled, Five Rules for Innovating in a Shaky Economy,

 

Adding Services

via mywelcometothecity.com

 

Most business leaders know that adding on a service to your product typically results with in the customer not wanting the said service.  Customers know why they like your product and how they like to use it.  But in a rough economy, where every dollar counts, customers have to re-evaluate the ways they engage in all aspects of their life.

 

via freshpeel.com

 

Adding services does not mean change your business model, it means supplementing your revenue with incremental dollars to expand your portfolio.  Services are a low risk, high reward scenario because it will help your company get through the gruff economy whether it creates a new product line or cash flow, neither of which hurt your bottom line.

 

YouTube Preview Image

 

In part four of the series, I will explain how experimenting with your business model is a risk worth trying.

Check out the entire series from start to finish, Part One, Part Two.

 

Think I missed something on the post?  What some more advice on how to innovate? Let me know by commenting on this post, or by reaching out to me on e-mail: ssaber@thepulsenetwork.com

 

 



 

 

Filed Under: The Pulse on Marketing Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

Benefits vs Features: Make Your Audience Laugh

August 25, 2011 by

 

This is Part Three of a Five Part Series in which Butch Stearns and Tyler Pyburn Discuss the Differences Between Benefits and Features in Blogging.  Butch Stearns is the C.O.O. of The Pulse Network, and the Host of Sports Buzz on The Pulse Network.

Relieve Someone’s Stress With Laughter! (via Wellness Business Coaching Online)

Most people are stressed out.  They work too much, they run around at their jobs, and there’s never enough time for anything.  So a good way to keep people coming back to consume your work is to give them a break from the stress, and make them laugh.

You can work to incorporate humor into your blogging just as you would into everyday conversation.  Find things that you think will be funny to your target audience, and use it to make your readers laugh.

 

 

 

Faux John Madden Keeps Ya’ Laughing

One of the people I keep up with because of their sense of humor is @FauxJohnMadden.  This parody twitter account keeps me coming back for more each day because  it gives me a break and makes me laugh about sports.

YouTube Preview Image

 

When you keep people laughing, you’ll keep ‘em coming back for more.

 

To Watch The Whole Series, Please Check Out The Playlist Here.

 

Filed Under: General Tagged With: , , ,

TPN Revenue Model – Platform vs. Services

August 25, 2011 by

This is part three of a five part series between Tyler Pyburn, host at The Pulse Network, and Colin Bower, Chief Revenue Officer at The Pulse Network, as they explore the concept of The Pulse Network’s revenue model.

 

When focusing on the TPN Revenue Model in it’s entirety, the concept of it being a platform stands out and may pose many questions.

Our reasoning behind “productizing” and moving to a platform offering was because we wanted more reoccurring revenues. Because the proportions of our service revenues were too high, we need to lower that aspect but increase our reoccurring revenues as well. In lower the service revenues and increasing our reoccurring revnue streams then we will in fact become a more stronger company.

To grasp a better understanding of this process let’s start with explaining the difference between a platform and a service. A platform is something a company is going to do on a reoccurring basis. Whether it’s an event that’s scheduled to take place each year or even a product launch that’s scheduled well in advance, companies have some kind of schedule that maps out there platform strategy. At The Pulse Network many of our enterprise clients that we work with are actually looking for a minimum 12 month contracts. What we are doing, whether it’s lead acquisition, an awareness campaign, or a customer retention campaign, is effectively providing our clients access to our platform to achieve their desired goals and objectives. It all boils down to the fact that our partners expect us to provide a number of platform services at a price that they can’t find anywhere else.

 

YouTube Preview Image

 

Tyler Pyburn is a host at The Pulse Network and can be reached on his twitter or e-mail, tpyburn@thepulsenetwork.com

Colin Bower is the Chief Revenue Officer at The Pulse Network and can be reached on his Twitter or email, cbower@thepulsenetwork.com

 

Filed Under: General

Social Media Contests – Sweepstakes

August 24, 2011 by

This is part two of a five part series between Tyler Pyburn, host at The Pulse Network, and Allen Bonde, Chief Marketing Officer at The Pulse Network, as they discuss social media contests and how they’re effective as a marketing tool.

Sweepstakes are one of the most popular types of contests, and can be a great way to get people to follow and spread the word about your brand on social channels.  Of course there are rules you need to follow if you run a sweepstakes, so you’ll want to check out any specific requirements if you live in certain states – see here for some helpful advice and links.

Follow & Tweet Contests on Twitter

Tweet & Follow

One specific sweepstakes model that I love on Twitter is a so-called “follow and tweet” contest.  This contest revolves around getting Twitter users to follow you (obviously!) and then tweet a message, hashtag or link.  For example, I was involved with a contest run by Kobo, an eReader company back when I was running marketing at Offerpop.  What worked great about this campaign was that you had a chance to win one of 3 eReaders simply by tweeting about your favorite book.  It wasn’t focused on the product, but rather on something that Kobo’s target audience was passionate about – authors and books!

Kobo Landing Page

Tapping these types of shared experiences and by making it easy to share (via the retweet mechanism and hashtag) are key to having your contest “go viral.”  Which is just what this one did, as it generated a reach of about one hundred times the original number of Twitter followers – over a half million people – and 4000+ entries.

At TPN, we’ve recently run a similar contest to promote the upcoming Inbound Marketing Summit, where we asked people to tweet about what speaker they’re most excited to see at the event, for a chance to win a conference pass and dinner out in Boston.  We can also set up similar contests on Facebook via a sign-up form, but in terms of maximum reach and simple set up (and fewer guidelines), you can’t beat Twitter for these types of programs.

View our video for additional thoughts and examples – thanks for reading!

YouTube Preview Image

 

Allen Bonde is the CMO of The Pulse Network and can be found on Twitter or email,abonde@thepulsenetwork.com.

Tyler Pyburn is a host at The Pulse Network and can be reached on his twitter or e-mail, tpyburn@thepulsenetwork.com

 

Filed Under: General
«Older Posts