DMJ Podcast: Doers Versus Leaders

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 The Delivering Marketing Joy Podcast is back!  Our goal here is to attack 2018 with a vengeance!  The Delivering Marketing Joy Podcast will provide some inspiration, motivation and education to make it happen!  Consider this your 10 minute “kick in the pants” to get your week started off right!  Today on the podcast I talk about the difference between being a “doer” and being a “leader.”  I love being a person who gets thing done.  I am proud of it.  But what do you do when you are put in charge of other people?  Are the skills the same?  The answer…no.  Thanks for listening and digging in here on the DMJ Podcast every week!  And a specific and proud shout out to NewPointe Community Church for their work (and leadership) on this great project.  You can learn more about the church here. Make sure you never miss an update by signing up for our VIP Newsletter here.  Or you can subscribe to the podcast on iTunes, Sticher, Soundcloud…or where ever you listen to podcasts!

When You Don't Have Time

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 It’s easy somedays to say “I just don’t have time.”  I was at a work event all day yesterday.  I am leaving early to do manual labor today.  I don’t have something pre-planned or pre-written.  On a day like today it would be easy (and fair) today “I don’t have time to write a blog.” We all have days like this.  But…I have time to do something.  It might not be the normal length.  It might not be my best work.  But if it always has to be perfect, there is no way to keep it up.  Sometimes “done” is better than “perfect.” So whether it’s a sales call, a piece of content, or a work out, you might still have time to do “something.” Do that. Make sure you never miss an update!  Sign up for our VIP newsletter today!

My Anniversary Shoes

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 Yesterday was my 22nd Anniversary…and my wife got me these shoes.  These shoes represent the best kind of gift.  They were something that I really wanted, but I had decided that I was not going to buy for myself.  So I was really excited when she (quite thoughtfully) surprised me with them. In addition, these shoes represent a lot of what I believe in. Gary Vee’s Shoes:  These are the new Gary Vee 003.  Gary Vaynerchuk teamed up with K-Swiss to create these shoes, designed for entrepreneurs.  If you are regular reader of this blog, you have seen me mention Gary Vaynerchuk…like I did here.  Gary has become legendary in the content creation and entrepreneurial world.  The short story goes like this:  He took over his family’s liquor store and grew it from $3 Million to $60 Million in 5 years.  He did it on the back of Youtube and Twitter.  Then he left the family business to create VaynerMedia where they work as a digital ad agency with huge businesses to do advertising on line. So what does this mean to you?  Why should you care about my shoes?  I am glad you asked.  Gary Vaynerchuk is sold wine…not fashion.  Then he left that business and created a Digital Media Agency.  He did not create a shoe company.  So, why then, is he able to work with K-Swiss and create his own shoe line?  Maybe more importantly, how is he able to sell out of them?  Why are people buying them, then re-selling them on E-Bay?  (Seriously…it’s happening).   He is doing it because he has a large and passionate audience.  He has a platform.  He is an influencer.  Over time, Gary has created content and added value…through content.  (His Youtube channel is here).  Day after day.  Year after year.  He has taken the time to “Give First” (I talk about this concept here) over and over again.  So that when he decides to “ask” people are lined up to buy.   So when we talk about creating value online, this is why.  It’s about creating value so that you can create an audience.  If you have a passionate audience, then you get to decide what to do next.  This sort of thing does not happen overnight.  It’s hard work.  It may seem unreasonable.  But in my estimation, it’s worth it.   Now for those of us that are willing to grind, it’s time to get back after it.  For those that are not, enjoy the view. Oh…and thanks to my wife for awesome anniversary gift.  She really is the best. Speaking of value, we are trying to create it for you every day.  If you want to make sure you never miss an update, sign up here for our VIP Newsletter.  We deliver this value to you each week via email.   

6 Lessons from Delivering Marketing Joy!

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lessons from delivering marketing joy

Delivering Marketing Joy is one of the pieces of content that I am most proud.  Why?  Probably because it was one of the first consistent pieces I produced…and it helped put me on the map.

Now, nearly 250 episodes later, it’s still rolling.   As you might expect from a journey like this, I have learned a lot from Delivering Marketing Joy.  But what can it teach you?  Here are a few lessons I am proud to share.

Don’t Listen To The Voice:  I have talked about this before here, but it’s worth mentioning again.  The hardest voice to overcome when starting something like this is the one in your own head.  For Delivering Marketing Joy, I had to overcome the voice telling me that no one wanted to talk to me on an interview show.  Who was I?  I am so glad I pushed through that.  Most people were more than willing (and generous) to spend the time.

Share Platforms:  One of the reasons I think the show worked (early on) was because I was sharing platforms with other people in the industry as I grew my own.  In my first episode I talked with Mark Graham.  He was already an influencer in the industry, so I was able to leverage his audience too!  Obviously, the goal is to provide value.  So by sharing platforms you get to share the goods with more people.

Stay With It:  When I was about 20 or so episodes into the show, I was kind of tired.  I was proud of how many shows I had done…but I did not know whether it was worth it to continue.  Insert Seth Godin.  I got the chance to interview him (with Mark Graham) and Seth mentioned that he had seen the show!  Wow!  Then he said something I will never forget.  “Stick with it.  In 3 years you will be glad you did.”   At the time I did not have the next episode lined up!  But I did keep it up.  And Seth even agreed to be my guest when I got to Episode 100.  Watch that here.

Be Consistent:  This is something I preach a lot…because I think it really matters.  If you want to build an audience (and I am still working on it), you need to be consistent.  It’s important to the audience.  But I think it’s important to you too.  It sets a deadline.  Otherwise, it becomes really easy to “just miss one.”

Start With A Few in the Bank:  This leads nicely to Start with a few “in the bank.”  When I started DMJ, I heard that the average web show never makes it to Episode 5.  I have no idea if that was true.  But I was obsessed with starting with 5 shows done!  That bank of episodes gave me some confidence and gave me time to get more going!

Don’t Worry About the Metrics (at first):  It’s not about creating a “viral video.”  It’s about creating value.  Way too many people get really focused on the numbers too early on.  It’s a recipe for frustration.  You are (likely) not going to have a big audience at first…so the numbers are not going to be impressive.  That’s fine.  It will build.  Plus, I have found that despite the numbers, you never know who is watching.  Keep focusing on the value…the numbers will take care of themselves. Delivering Marketing Joy is a weekly class for me.  I learn something all the time.  But these are just a few lessons that I am reminded of as I look back.

Want to keep up with all of the lessons?  Sign up for our VIP newsletter.  It’s a great way to stay on top of the content we are creating!

Brand-ecdotes with Amanda Delaney

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Welcome to a super awesome blog post series for Hasseman Marketing called:

 

“Brand-ecdotes!” 

 

Each week we will talk to a branding all star about what make the Promotional Product advertising media so special!  

 

This week we talk to Amanda Delaney from Imagen Brands.  Amanda has been all over the Promo industry and lends her story and personality to us today!  Take it away Amanda!  

 

1. What is your all-time favorite Promotional Product and why?

 

I have so many of my products that I absolutely love, and feel like I should definitely plug them, but my all time favorite promo product is a tee shirt.  With all of the amazing products in our industry, a tee shirt will always be a walking billboard.  Furthermore,  I have so many branded tee shirts from events or times in my life that remind me of that time, and those memories are so awesome to have every time I’m wearing one.  I recently went to an event in Raleigh where some industry friends brought tee shirts to hand out, and I love wearing them because it reminds me of the epic weekend I had.  Tee shirts are by far my favorite.    

 

2.  Can you name a Promo Product that you have that STILL reminds you fondly of an event, person, organization?  If so, can you tell us that story?

 

My mom died almost three years ago, and when I was cleaning out her house I found a Seahwaks lanyard under her bed.  I’m from Seattle, so I ‘m a die hard Seahawks fan, but that all comes from my mom as there isn’t a bigger fan out there than she was.  I hated when she watched football growing up, until she explained the game to me and we eventually came to talk Hawks all of the time.  When I found it, I had been thinking at the exact same time how our last conversation was about the upcoming season and how I wouldn’t have any more seasons with her.  That stupid lanyard brought me to my knees, and I laughed at the same time thinking of my mom telling me “don’t be sad, I’ll get to watch them in Heaven”.  I have that lanyard on my keys to this day, and I put it around my neck multiple times a day carrying product into my meetings.  I have never in my life loved a piece of cloth tied to a snap as much as I love this lanyard. 

 

 3.  What is the current product you use all the time?

 

For sure it’s my (Crown’s) braided long cable!! It’s a six foot extension cord to your existing phone charger cable – IT’S GENIUS!!  I spend so many nights in a hotel that when you have that to lay on the right side of the bed and still have your phone  in your hands (I know, first world problems), it’s amazing.  I love it so much there’s one one the five chargers I have in my house and car. It’s such a cool thing.  

 

 4.  What is an idea/product that you think organizations UNDER use?

 

Spec samples.  SPECS SELL. And when you have a good partnership with a supplier,we will do that for free (atleast I will), but there’s also something to be said in the distributor putting some skin into it.  Either way, the idea of specs is so underused, and I really wish it was taken advantage of more than it is.   

 

5.  What do you think is the best thing about Promotional Products as an advertising media?

 

First and foremost it’s the people.  I have never met more driven, passionate and solid people as I have than those I meet in this industry.  So selfishly for me, that makes me love what I do even more.  I’m so inspired by so many people who love what they do as much as I do, and it’s a wonderful thing to be a part of.  But on a larger scale, people love what we do for them!  I’ve head it a million times and I stand by it, we’re the only channel of marketing and advertising that people spend money with us and say THANK YOU. There is nothing better than seeing your product out in the community or on Facebook, and you know that not only did you do that for your customer, you helped your customer do that for theirs.  It’s a really fulfilling and satisfying feeling that I definitely live for every day.  

 

And…that’s the another edition of Brand-ecdotes!  Thanks to Amanda Delaney for taking the time to jump in on this project!  Awesome stuff here!

 

Make sure you never miss a post, video or podcast!  Sign up for the Hasseman Marketing VIP newsletter here.  And if you want to look for your own amazing branding products, you can do that here.