Speeding into an uncharted digital landscape, online social communities have become some of the largest platforms of interactive communication.
Fasten your seat belts ladies and gentleman, the communication revolution has arrived.
With online communities making up the fastest growing sector of the internet (+5.4% per year) it's vital that companies integrate "the art of being social" into the core their business strategies. Customers are now able to choose how, when and where they interact with companies based on their own specific needs. They are vocal, opinionated and very social, which means they are not only to been seen as purchasers, but as advocates and influencers as well.
Tapping into this premise of empowerment, and adopting interactive engagement strategies, is crucial for companies to undertake as they embrace the future of digital communication.
Tips for Tweeting
Today's Tips for Tweeting have been brought to you by the letter E!
Encourage followers to check back in with you regularly by providing them with a clear and consistent stream of communication, or in this case, Tweets.
Educate your community of followers by providing them with information that is relevant, valuable and useful. Try to communicate the information it in a way that proliferates social sharing.
Entertain your community of followers with witty and memorable Tweets. This will be sure to shine light on how quick minded and creative you are!
Expand your overall reach by integrating multiple social media platforms (ie. Facebook, YouTube, Foursquare, Blog) to leverage a comprehensive digital strategy.
Excellent, now go exercise those tweets!
Building a Sustainable Entrepreneurial Community
Today I had the opportunity to participate in a live teleseminar lead by Brad Feld, an inspiring thought leader and active angel investor in the startup community. Here is some food for thought he provided when it comes to building a sustainable entrepreneurial community.
1. The experienced entrepreneurs involved need to lead at the core with a shared and committed long-term view of the future.
2. Constantly have ways of making the community easily accessible to new entrepreneurs, continuously bringing in “fresh blood” so to say.
3. Participate and lead in activities that engage everyone involved, avoiding “clicks” at all costs.
4. Take time to create a consistent method of actively mentoring and truly supporting the 1st time entrepreneurs in the community. Provide them with information that is valuable, approach them with data rather then an answer.
We also discussed the newly launched Startup America Partnership. This initiative is the first time the federal government has acknowledged the distinction of “high growth entrepreneurship” in the United States. Before now, whether you were a small grocery story owner, founder of a tech startup or owner of a beauty salon, you fell into the category of “small business.” The startup initiative was designed to accelerate entrepreneurial growth, with a goal of adding 25,000 new jobs in the United States by 2016.
To learn more, visit www. startupamericapartnership.org
1. The experienced entrepreneurs involved need to lead at the core with a shared and committed long-term view of the future.
2. Constantly have ways of making the community easily accessible to new entrepreneurs, continuously bringing in “fresh blood” so to say.
3. Participate and lead in activities that engage everyone involved, avoiding “clicks” at all costs.
4. Take time to create a consistent method of actively mentoring and truly supporting the 1st time entrepreneurs in the community. Provide them with information that is valuable, approach them with data rather then an answer.
We also discussed the newly launched Startup America Partnership. This initiative is the first time the federal government has acknowledged the distinction of “high growth entrepreneurship” in the United States. Before now, whether you were a small grocery story owner, founder of a tech startup or owner of a beauty salon, you fell into the category of “small business.” The startup initiative was designed to accelerate entrepreneurial growth, with a goal of adding 25,000 new jobs in the United States by 2016.
To learn more, visit www. startupamericapartnership.org
Rules, Better Broken
Sometimes to make things happen, all you need is a couple people to challenge the status quo. It usually starts with that one nut in the crowd who stands up and yells "Hey, this sucks! Let's try something else!" and then sooner or later a brave follower joins and the movement, the change, creates itself.
Even science has showed us that an outcome rarely (if ever) changes by following the same pattern of action. So why is it that so many of us as individuals, as companies and as organizations, commit to putting so much effort into creating and abiding by rules when it's clear that the most innovative results come by breaking them?
Because it's "safe." But not really. It's actually riskier- while you were busy making rules and stamping out change, you were also busy missing out on exciting new ideas and opportunities.
I encourage you to be the nut...or at the very least, be the first follower. SCREAM! YELL! MAKE NOISE! Challenge the status quo and lead the change you want to see.
Thinking Outside the Term Sheet: How Angel Capital Adds Value
Raising angel capital during seed stage funding is a great choice for most companies because it adds an extra layer of security beyond the term sheet. Not only are most angel investors well versed in entrepreneurship, but many also hold the key to leading industry contacts that may be crucial in the early development stages of a company. Nothing screams credible like being backed by an angel with a respectable reputation in their industry.
If you're a company looking for funding be smart, do your homework and think about what your capital brings to the table. Don't just take money to take money, consider your options. Although it may seem like rounding up angels is as difficult as herding cats, it's definitely worth the effort.
If you are lucky enough to have these guys on you're side, chances are they'll be just as determined to see your company succeed as you are.
If you're a company looking for funding be smart, do your homework and think about what your capital brings to the table. Don't just take money to take money, consider your options. Although it may seem like rounding up angels is as difficult as herding cats, it's definitely worth the effort.
If you are lucky enough to have these guys on you're side, chances are they'll be just as determined to see your company succeed as you are.
Introducing The New Silicon Valley of Russia
Russia is taking big strides to encourage innovation from within its country. Recently, they've invested over 85 Billion Rubles ($2.8 Billion US dollars) in creating the new "silicon valley" of Russia. The new center is located in the city of Skolkovo, just west of Moscow. President Dmitry Medvedev is the brains behind this initiative and has gained tremendous amounts of support from some of the leading global players in innovation including Google, Intel, Cisco, IBM, Boeing and the list is growing.
Although they still have a long way to go, it's great to see progress in the works. I'm interested in seeing the what Russia comes up with and how this will effect future business deals in a place where most investors have otherwise feared to tread.
Although they still have a long way to go, it's great to see progress in the works. I'm interested in seeing the what Russia comes up with and how this will effect future business deals in a place where most investors have otherwise feared to tread.
Icy Road Ahead
If there's one conclusion I've come to, after moving to the metropolis of the universe from small town 'sconsin, it's definitely this...
Tackling a learning curve is much like taking a corner on an unexpected icy road.
If you put on the breaks once you hit it, you're almost guaranteed to wreck. The only way to stay on track is to act against your natural tendencies, steering into the turn or leaning into the curve as you go.
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