Marketing has not escaped the reach of the pandemic. The way that companies market to leads and existing customers has changed in significant ways. While moving many aspects of business online for many years, it’s no longer optional. It’s an absolute necessity. Technology has become a critical tool for marketing efforts, even as it presents its own set of challenges. [...]
Serious gamers have long known a secret. It’s entirely possible to learn, build communities, connect with new people, grow relationships, strategize as a team, and have fun doing it! Let’s step back for a minute. There is a reason why some generations played math bingo, completed word finds, navigated strategy mazes, listened to music, doodled, or participated in a categories [...]
Lest anyone think that corporate social responsibility is fluff, they should consider the following: Fortune Global 500 firms spend roughly $20 billion on corporate social responsibility annually. (1) It is literally big business. What, exactly, is corporate social responsibility? More than 100 Fortune 500 chairmen and chief executive officers define it as the following: (2) Delivering value to customers by [...]
Recent circumstances have dictated that some in-person events go virtual. This shift has left organizations scrambling to ensure their virtual events provide educational, inspiring, and engaging content. Speakers and entertainers are an essential part of the equation. A sensational speaker or entertainer can elevate events and meetings. That said, selecting the right speakers and entertainers for virtual events is complicated. [...]
Winning the confidence of customers was important before the recent crisis. Now, in the forever altered world following the crisis, earning their trust is imperative. Social listening and engagement play a critical role in doing so. During months of social isolation, people turned to and relied on social media to maintain a connection to the outside world. Businesses must pander [...]
Effective leadership can be the defining factor determining business success or failure during a crisis. Those who hold leadership positions have the most power in their organization. So, it stands to reason that they exert heavy influence on the direction of the company, employee relations and productivity. Employees who work for exemplary leaders will feel more motivated, more supported and [...]
Times of crisis and demonstrations of employee appreciation often happen in silos. This sounds counterintuitive. Surely, employers would know they should display gratitude to improve morale during difficult times. Unfortunately, and to the detriment of the business, this is often not the case. Why does this happen, even to employers with the best of intentions? During crises, people are running [...]
Spurred by social distance protocols, the coronavirus pandemic caused a major spike in the use of virtual meetings. While companies will likely continue to hold virtual meetings in the future, face-to-face meetings are still highly valuable. Virtual meetings can never replace in-person meetings entirely because they do not meet the all of the needs that in-person meetings do. In-person events [...]
Almost every organization desires to lead its industry, and selecting the right CEO is essential to this strategy. Some CEOs are simply born to innovate, are smart, are driven, and are brave as well as bold. These leaders are legends such as Lee Iacocca and Steve Jobs. Then there are more inspirational leaders such as Mary T. Barra and Kenneth [...]
The recent crisis has exacted a terrible toll on many small and mid-sized businesses (SMBs). The severity of the challenges SMB owners face due to the fallout cannot be underestimated. This reality has left owners of these businesses feeling pessimistic about the future of their company. (1) SMBs will not see relief anytime soon. In fact, it could take more [...]