Yesterday, I received in the mail a clients invoice payment. It was on time, and for the full amount. This, and I am happy to say, is a normal thing.

However, attached with the payment was a small postcard – And it read

“Dear Josh,

Thank you for your time and patience. This is only the beginning.”

Wow – it was amazing how something small, could be so remarkable.

This is exactly what I, and my company strive for in every aspect of what we do. And if successful, we’ll have people talking about it – just like I am today.

Don’t forget that in life, nothing is bigger than the small stuff!

Good day, today I thought I would share how social media can work for your business. I’m doing this not because I don’t want business (trust me, I do) but I thought – Hey these people have been following me for a while now, it’s time to give back!

So how does social media work? Or, how does it work for business may be the better question.

Think of social media as a wheel – An always-revolving wheel, that doesn’t always have to go in the same direction. (A wheel might not be the best analogy, but it’s the best I could come up with)

You start at the top of the wheel with a main contact point, for most this is a website – Then you start adding into your wheel. You can add in a blog, and social media channels. The wheel can now start to turn! The main idea is that these spots are different touch-point that your clients can interact with you (much like a wheel contacting the pavement). It may slip if you only have two contact points, but with several, you’re gripping the highway while going 220km.

So how does this work for Business?

Touch-points, and interaction. You’re clients may not want to have contact with you through your website or even blog, but your Facebook page, or Twitter account- sure why not!

You offer information through them all, staying true to the feeling but not sending out the same message over and over – and then you listen, see what others are saying and respond. The wheel continues to spin.

That’s how social media can work for your business! And remember, be Remarkable, Aspire to Inspire

Recently, I have been focusing a lot on how to use social media tools, and how to continue to engage your current costumers. However, another key area is starting a conversation –

Much like going on that first date, eventually someone will need to talk (can’t sit through dinner the whole time just eating). Sometimes this is the costumer, which is great because it give you insight into what they want to talk about. However, this does not happen all the time, and eventually it will fall to you to start the conversation.

But how do you do this?

For some, a harsh approach is taken – They utilize a shock tactic to get people interested in what they’re saying and generally pick a hot topic of discussion. A great example of this is the ongoing conversation about social media and if it’s good or bad for business – won’t get into that here.

This works, and will get you noticed – but it will also generate feedback both good and negative, and you must be prepared for both, more so the negative. You simply cannot come back with “Ah well, You’re Dum” – That’s not going to cut it, and those who supported you may back off after seeing that reply. However, if you are ready for the negative, choosing a topic of hot debate and jump in.

But now it’s time to be Remarkable –

Instead of using a harsh tactic of jumping into a debate with a shock statement – “Everything Blue Sucks!” Start a conversation that you know your audience will find useful. Start a conversation that your audience may generally have to pay for (unless you’re a Doctor, then maybe not). Offer information, insight, and stories to those who you want to attract into a conversation.

That’s how you can be Remarkable

Yes, it may take a little more time this way to get noticed – No Shock Value in Offing Good Information, but over time the people who read your message will become patrons of your message, sharing it with others because they feel it is something of value, not just something of split-second interest. These people will become Raving Fans – and will start to start the conversation for you, and that’s the goal.

The most powerful form of marketing (and few people debate this) is – Word of Mouth. Thinking back over the years at the majority of my purchases, both large and small, word of mouth played a key role in my decisions.  Yes sometimes the conversation was started by a television ad (and when that happens, good job!) but it was the conversation with a friend or colleague that got me to purchase.

But, these days it’s hard to get this powerful marketing working for you – and you don’t have the time to go and meet every single person who you need to buy your product/service.

Welcome to World Of Mouth – using social media to spread word of mouth for you. But you have to start the conversation. Businesses that go onto these tools and put their ads up, and broadcast their message across the channels are not being remarkable; they’re just doing the same thing they have always done – just in a new location.

But, those who embrace the new form of marketing have found great success – Skittles engaged their buyers but allowing them to shape their website. Mac’s recently ran a campaign where their Facebook fans named a new slurp drink.

And this is just the tip of the iceberg

Remember, it’s not remarkable to say the same thing over and over just in different locations. Engage people, talk with them, and allow them to feel special – give them some of the power. They are the ones paying your bills!

Be Remarkable – Aspire To Inspire

Recently, I was asked to talk about the effectiveness of social media to a local College. This was a great opportunity for me to get into this environment and start talking about all the amazing things these new tools could do.

When I first started thinking about what I was going to say, I went with the tried and tested approach of, Show Them What You’ve Done! It’s a great strategy, as it does a little showing off, while talking about a proven subject – But this wasn’t all that inspiring. I remember a mantra of

“Be Remarkable – Aspire to Inspire”

This is a very bold mantra as the idea to inspire someone can sometimes be lofty. But I wanted to do this, I wanted to inspire these young minds (not much younger than myself) in how Social Media can totally revolutionize the way business communicates.

So I started with a different approach, I started much like any good social media campaign would – I started a conversation. I wanted to know what they thought about social media, and then captivate them by stories and insights that I have learned along the way.

Remember that it is easer to tell them what you’ve done, but much harder to Inspire them to do the same!

Going to take a step back from the social media world, and talk about being remarkable – which is critical in today’s world of endless choice.

No to long ago, I was going through a Tim Hortons drive through. As a Canadian kid, and living in Ontario, this is something I have done many times before, and will do many times again. But this trip to get my coffee and muffin was a little different. I pulled up to the speaker of the drive through (no one inline before me, so I was already in a good mood) and was promptly greeted with a “It’s an amazing Day, Welcome to Tim Horton’s how can I be of service.” I had heard the first part of being an amazing day, but never the “be of service” and it was said at a level that I believed this person did think it was an amazing day.

I ordered my coffee – Two milk, and a muffin – Pumpkin spice – I was quickly asked “Is it alright that the muffin are hot and fresh right out of the oven?” Putting a smile on my face, I replied yes. I was then told to come forward when I was ready, giving me the feel that no one else really mattered at this moment but me and my order.

It was a great experience, and it was at a Tim Hortons drive through – Just goes to show that you can be remarkable in any role.