Marketing, Business & Life - For & By 20-Something Professionals

Archive for the Marketing Yourself category

It’s ALL About the Trophies!!!

by Joshua Crumbaugh on June 3rd, 2008

 

Marketing is just like playing baseball or football and trying to make it to the big leagues. You compete to be the best at your field position (SEO, Copywriting, Research, Guerilla, Viral, etc…) and each of us accumulates trophies along the way. The more you have the more recruiters and executives you have looking at you. Moreover, the less work you have to do to get those opportunities because in the field of marketing the big dogs want the best and only the best. I know this because I have been through the gauntlet trying to get an opportunity to play with the big dogs. Marketing Trophies
My first 5 major trophies meant nothing because I didn’t understand this concept. I didn’t take the time needed to market my accomplishments so people would know who I was and why they needed ME! We could sit here and analyze my past trophies and exactly what I missed, but I’d rather focus on my most recent trophy, and how learning to market it as well as myself, has opened countless doors. It all started in December of 2006 when I was offered a position as the Director of Marketing for Platinum Mortgage, Inc., a name that I’m sure if you have heard, was just recently. Platinum Mortgage, although certainly not a “nobody,” was only strong in Alabama. When I started we were one of the top FHA and Bond money lenders in our state. I then started marketing our new wholesale lending division and got in launched just in time to see our entire industry crumble around us, but as opposed to running scared like many in our industry, we pushed forward and launched very aggressive marketing campaigns dealing with the issues around us. To date we are one of the fastest growing lenders in the country with gains of over 400% in just a matter of months. This is my newest trophy, but if the only marketing I do is put it on my resume it won’t give me the results it could. This is huge; record gains during an industry implosion. So, how do I get the word out and start getting these jobs to come in the door. We’ll I’ve already done it and continue to even in this post. In fact, I’ve had more opportunities thrown in my lap over the past 3 months that I have in the last 2 years combined. I tell you all of this not to brag, but hopefully to save you some of the blood, sweat and tears. When we’re the antiques in our industry how many of us will be in the hall of fame? I certainly plan to be. So here are a few reminders when marketing your accomplishments as well as yourself.
Step one: Do you pass the Google Litmus test? Have you Googled yourself to see what potential employers/contractors/partners will see? Do you have a strong presence when they do Google you? We live in a world where you can custom tailor the message these people are seeing. Have you made search engines your trophy case? Do it you’ll be amazed by the results! Marketing Your Trophies Makes $$$$

Step two: Have you made yourself an expert? How do we define an expert? We define someone based on the exposure they have and the context of that exposure. How do you become an expert? You become an expert by being an expert. Get on marketing forums and start answering questions. You may want to first make sure the site is regularly indexed. This is just one example; you could also start a blog, create an RSS feed as well as countless other techniques. The point is that you make yourself an expert in the industry. When you do the business and or job offers will start rolling in.

Step three: Have you marketed your accomplishments as well as yourself?

There are many other things you can do, but I recommend you start by asking yourself this question: “If I was hired to market a professional in their industry, where would I start?” 

The First Two Rules of Blogging Your Way Through Business School

by Jared on April 10th, 2007

As a relative blog veteran, it’s interesting to read the latest Wall Street Journal article on how blogging can help your career.

Among the topics discussed was how to use your blog to control your online footprint and demonstrate to recruiters that you indeed, can back up what’s on your resume. Although the article was very well done, it did present an interesting question; “do those same points continue carry over to the MBA experience as to enhance your personal brand for both the business school and MBA recruiters?”

I was able to pose just such a question to one of the career management staff members at a recent incoming MBA student reception. He answered that like all answers he gives; “it depends.” More

20SMF Episode #62 - So You Wanna’ Be A Podstar? - Updated

by Jared on March 31st, 2007

UPDATED/CORRECT EDITION: A fun-filled romp on the career value of starting your own podcast or blog and the essential things you need to know before jumping in to the social media universe.

Special Co-host: Penelope Lee (Marketing Diner)

Show Notes:

  • Why business podstar-dom kicks ass
  • Podcasting and blogging tips to bolster your personal brand
  • Debunking the most common misconceptions of running your own podcast and/or blog

Listen To Episode:

Download Episode:

Subscribe Via iTunes| Subscribe Via Yahoo! | Send Us E-Mail

20SMF Episode #59 - A Networking We Will Go

by Jared on February 16th, 2007

Jared travels to a business conference and interviews attendees on tips and strategies for networking. Featured is an enlightening sit-down with Alayne White of Alayne White Spas of New England.

Referenced Links:

Podcast:

  • Right Click Here And ‘Save As’ To Download Full Show

    • Subscribe Via iTunes| Subscribe Via Yahoo! | Send Us E-Mail

    2006 20SM Upward Management/Best Boss Awards

    by Jared on November 30th, 2006

    Per a request, I am re-running the Best Boss Contest but after some thought we are re-dubbing it: The 2006 20-Something Marketing Upward Management/Best Boss Awards…

    Synopsis:

    We love stories about kicking some serious result-driven ass at work, especially if it required a 20-something using upward management to persuade their boss or co-workers.

    In fact, we love those types of stories so much we created a contest in 2005 to see who had the best one.

    Instructions/Rules:

    1) Put together a short (less than 500 word) synopsis of your project, the process you used, and its results.

    2) Please keep the stories fairly clean (i.e. no over-the-top raunchy intern stuff).

    3) Entrants are highly encouraged to change the names of their bosses or co-workers unless you think they wouldn’t mind us reading them on-air.

    4) Submit your entries by December 14th to jared@20somethingmarketing.com

    The Awards:

    The listener who submits the best story, as judged by the staff of 20-something marketing (meaning Jared), will receive the incredible 20-Something Marketing Mug and/or business card file.

    Good Luck & We Look Foreword To Your Entries!

    Name Your Raise - The New Game Show For 20-Somethings

    by Jared on August 10th, 2006

    “It’s time to play everyone’s favorite new game show, NAME YOUR RAISE!! That’s right – it’s the only reality show that puts your future income into jeopardy by asking you to tell your boss just what you think you should be making next year.”

    “Before we begin; let’s go over the rules, shall we?”

    “The object is simple. Craft a response to your bosses’ e-mail asking you what you think your salary should be in the coming year. Guess too high and you can blow your chance at a raise and forget about that root-canal you’ve been waiting for. Guess too low and you’ll still be working for peanuts. Come up with a number that you and your boss will agree with and you might just get it!”

    “Now its time to see what our contestants have come up with…”

    More

    Buddy-ing Contacts

    by Jared on June 30th, 2006

    When was the last time you refreshed your professional contact network? Then again, when was the last time you refreshed your personal contact network…most likely known as your AIM buddy list?

    If you’re like me, your buddy list probably has a mish-mosh of old friends, family, casual acquaintances and some folks you might not even keep in contact with anymore. Your professional contact network is the same way.

    The only difference is that most of us don’t have the professional network in a handy, easy-to-use medium like AIM.

    What happens is that unlike your AIM list where re-connection is only a click away; your professional contact network may languish unused most of the time in a card file or an electronic address book. In order to make it easier for you to tap your professional contact network like you AIM, you need to do a couple of things.

    First of all, you need a network medium that makes your professional contacts as easy to connect with as your personal one. This means you not only need a system that organizes your contacts in an easy-to-view manner (like an AIM list), you need one that helps you associate those contact with particular causes.

    Personally, I try to use a card file that lays out business cards I collect like CDs. On the back of each one I write a note to myself about what they do and how I can refresh that network contact. I then send an e-mail to them, saying it was nice to meet them and reminding them about who I am.

    Later on, as I riffle through those contacts, I am always reminded of my network. Just like AIM, I am more prone to keeping those contacts top-of-mind and maintain regular contact with them.

    Small things like forwarding on an article of interest or inviting them to a professional reception can help feed your network so they are warmed up when you eventually do need them.