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Four Reasons Why LinkedIn Is a B2B Marketer’s Best Friend

LinkedIn "maps out" the B2B buyer journey

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Hiker Looking at a Map

Photo Credit: sakeeb via flickr

 

eMarketer published on August 31st: Does Your Marketing Influence B2B Decision-Makers? — Word-of-mouth is a winner—marketing, not so much.

The article shared important and discouraging insights for B2B (business-to-business) content marketers:

Word-of-mouth is a key driver, with businesspeople looking to friends in the industry and other third-party experts ahead of traditional or digital marketing resources.

Nearly two in five respondents said their professional network was the No. 1 most influential source at purchasing time. Industry experts came in second place, followed by internal influencers. Vendor-supplied content was a distant fourth, with just 14% of responses.

 

I’ll address the B2B content marketing implications later in this post.

For now, let’s dive into two (2) key issues: (1) A B2B buyer’s professional network important influence in the outcomes of six- to seven-figure business deals / complex sales and (2) LinkedIn’s immediate importance in the B2B buyer journey.  (more…)

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Google’s $400 Billion Trusted Advisor Superstar: Ruth Porat, Chief Financial Officer

Spoken and Written Words STILL Matter in A Big Data, Algorithm-Driven World

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Wad of Cash in Rubberband

Photo Credit: Refracted Moments(TM)

 

Spoken and written words STILL have a powerful and influential impact in a world increasingly driven by computer code, big data, and mathematical algorithms.

Ruth Porat, Google’s Chief Financial Officer (CFO), demonstrated during her June 16th investor relations conference call with Wall Street analysts why communicating with purpose, managing expectations, and showing “I’m actively listening” are still (and will continue to be) the hallmark skills of a successful 21st Century Trusted Advisor.

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Five Reasons Why Self-Publishing Exclusively on LinkedIn Is Bad Business

Invest in Yourself. Protect Your Personal Brand. Publish a Self-Hosted Blog.

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Runner with LinkedIn Logos

Bolota Asmeron, a member of the Linkedin Elite Centipede outs on a temporary Linkedin tattoo before the start of the 2010 Bay to Breakers race in San Francisco.

Photo Credit: A Name Like Shields Can Make You Defensive

 

Important Note: An intelligent and thought-provoking discussion from The Writing on LinkedIn Group inspired this latest post. Matt Sekol initiated the discussion thread, Where’s The Traditional Blog. It’s people like Matt Sekol (and many others) who reaffirm my belief and commitment to why The Writing on LinkedIn Group is one of the most important, intelligent, and enjoyable communities for engaging with and learning from like-minded individuals within LinkedIn.

Last week, I read Alexandra Samuel’s thoughtful post on Harvard Business Review: Have LinkedIn and Medium Killed the Old-Fashioned Blog? Almost three years ago and 1 million Linkedin writers later, LinkedIn launched its self-described definitive publishing platform.

I submitted a comment stating why limiting our self-publishing investments to third-party platforms like LinkedIn’s Publishing Platform and Medium without investing in a self-hosted, personal website or personal blog is a career and business mistake.

Here are more detailed thoughts expanding on my comment in Alexandra’s post.  (more…)

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Sunday Brunch Reads With Social Media ReInvention: 06/28/15 to 07/04/15

Chris Sacca on Fixing Twitter, LinkedIn and Medium Killing Blogging, and THE Trusted Advisor Way to Getting More Client Meetings

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Sunday Brunch Newspaper

Photo Credit: Anton Diaz

 

Please indulge me until Friday, July 31st 12:00 AM Midnight Central Time as I use the introductory paragraph of Sunday Brunch Reads with Social Media ReInvention to promote my nephew’s Kickstarter Campaign for his company, QuadshoX LLC.

I wrote about Johnny Morris’ spinal cord injury and remarkable story in this blog post: America’s Gutsiest CEO and His Kickstarter Project Need Your Support.

Here’s the link to QuadshoX’s inspiring YouTube video to promote its Kickstarter Campaign:

(more…)

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Part 3: Seth Godin’s Professional Freelancer Course – Rank Yourself

Advisory Lessons from 12 Angry Men, A Few Good Men, The Godfather, and The West Wing

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Trust Sign

Photo Credit: thorinside

 

I’m publicly taking and publishing the required exercises in Seth Godin’s Professional Freelancer Course on Udemy. The required exercises force you to ask: “Am I Taking This Path for The Right Reasons.”

I completed the Lectures Six through Thirteen this morning. It’s great stuff taught by The Godfather Himself: Mr. Seth Godin.

Seth asked his course participants to go all-in and publish their assignments. As I perform the course exercises, I will continue publishing the results. It’s Seth teaching his students to write down, commit to, and deliver on our personal manifestos.

Here’s my continuing public contribution and commitment to Seth’s class:

(more…)

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Sunday Brunch Reads with Social Media ReInvention: 06/21/15 to 06/27/15

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Sunday-Brunch-Newspaper-Large.jpg

Photo Credit: Anton Diaz

 

Please indulge me until Friday, July 31st 12:00 AM Midnight Central Time as I use the introductory paragraph of Sunday Brunch Reads with Social Media ReInvention to promote my nephew’s Kickstarter Campaign for his company, QuadshoX LLC. I wrote about Johnny Morris’ spinal cord injury and remarkable story in this blog post: America’s Gutsiest CEO and His Kickstarter Project Need Your Support.

Here’s the link to QuadshoX’s inspiring YouTube video to promote its Kickstarter Campaign:

The following news organizations wrote these wonderful articles about how Johnny’s and Team QuadshoX’s Corporate Mission is to transform the American wheelchair industry:

Johnny and Team QuadshoX have a limited window to raise $96,000 for the company’s initial inventory. Please join me in financially supporting the Team QuadshoX Kickstarter Campaign and join them in improving the lives of 6 million+ people wheelchair bound Americans.

Your Sunday Brunch Silicon Valley Catchphrase of the Week: Let’s Do Great Things.

(more…)

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Part 2: Seth Godin’s Professional Freelancer Course

What Do You Provide?

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Teacher with Students

Photo Credit: usembassykyiv

 

I’m publicly taking and publishing the required exercises in Seth Godin’s Professional Freelancer Course on Udemy. The required exercises force you to ask: “Am I Taking This Path for The Right Reasons.”

I completed the Lectures Six through Thirteen this morning. It’s great stuff taught by The Godfather Himself: Mr. Seth Godin.

Seth asked his course participants to go all-in and publish their assignments. As I perform the course exercises, I will continue publishing the results. It’s Seth teaching his students to write down, commit to, and deliver on our personal manifestos.

Here’s my continuing public contribution and commitment to Seth’s class:
(more…)

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Sunday Brunch Reads with Social Media ReInvention: 06/14/15 to 06/20/15

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Sunday Brunch Newspaper Large

Photo Credit: Anton Diaz

 

Please indulge me until Friday, July 31st 12:00 AM Midnight Central Time as I use the introductory paragraph of Sunday Brunch Reads with Social Media ReInvention to promote my nephew’s Kickstarter Campaign for his company, QuadshoX LLC. I wrote about Johnny Morris’ spinal cord injury and remarkable story in this blog post: America’s Gutsiest CEO and His Kickstarter Project Need Your Support.

Here’s the link to QuadshoX’s inspiring YouTube video to promote its Kickstarter Campaign:

The following news organizations wrote these wonderful articles about how Johnny’s and Team QuadshoX’s Corporate Mission is to transform the American wheelchair industry:

Johnny and Team QuadshoX have a limited window to raise $96,000 for the company’s initial inventory. Please join me in financially supporting the Team QuadshoX Kickstarter Campaign and join them in improving the lives of 6 million+ people wheelchair bound Americans.

Your Sunday Brunch Silicon Valley Catchphrase of the Week: “It’s like Uber for …

Thank YOU for Social Media Community Members who have generously financially supported Johnny’s Kickstarter Campaign. Here are this week’s Sunday Brunch Reads for your enjoyment:

1. Fortune.com: Why Ellen Pao Was Doomed To Lose. I’ve read Patricia Sellers’ Fortune Magazine articles for years because I’m a subscriber. She’s a top business journalist and an industry insider on women’s issues and corporate power in the elite Fortune 100. Her personal access to the men and women in CEO and senior executive boardrooms is one few people possess. That’s why I pay close attention to these quotes from her article on why Ellen Pao never had a chance of winning her sexual harassment lawsuit against Kleiner Perkins Caulfield & Byers:  (more…)

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America’s Gutsiest CEO and His KickStarter Project Need Your Support

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America's Gutsiest CEO John Morris QuadShox LLC

Photo Credit: Arianna Kilmer, QuadShox LLC

The young man in this photo has a smile that could power New York City’s Times Square. He carries a heart bigger than North America. He Is America’s Gutsiest CEO.

He’s quadriplegic. He’s also my beloved nephew, John Morris, CEO of QuadshoX LLC.  (more…)

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Sunday Brunch Reads with Social Media ReInvention: 06/07/15 to 06/13/15

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Sunday Brunch Newspaper Large

Photo Credit: Anton Diaz

 

I’m a former jock marveling at how LeBron James is leading the Cleveland Cavaliers through a sheer act of personal will throughout the NBA Playoffs. An NBA Championship for the city of Cleveland and King James means one word: Redemption.


Game 5 is today at 7 PM Central Time. If you have the cash, $12,000 gets you two (2) courtside seats via StubHub.

Your Sunday Brunch Silicon Valley Catchphrase of the Week: “How Wash U Is Changing The World.” Publishing this finding embarrasses me. My alma mater, Washington University in St. Louis, is using this catchphrase in their LinkedIn Advertising campaign to Washington University Alumni.

I loathe this Silicon Valley, self-proclaimed / self-referential bullshit. Sad how this attitude infects a midwestern academic institution. Makes me want to hurl.  (more…)