Reception and Premiere of Poetry Leaves Video

Everyone is invited to the premiere viewing of the 2015 Poetry Leaves promotional infomercial on Wednesday, February 25 from 6:00p to 7:30p at the Waterford Township Public Library. The video, produced by Maurer Marketing & Media and FX Productions, will be airing on 17 public access markets beginning March 1. 

April is National Poetry Month and this year, during the 2nd Annual Poetry Leaves Celebration, the events are spread out over February, March and of course, April. These include:

• March 10, 6p, “Speaking Skills for Poets and Writers” presented by Linda Anger, President of the Detroit Working Writers  
• April 1, 6p, Poet Laureate M.L. Liebler will be featured
• April 15, 6p,  “The Music of Language” presented by Don Levin
• April 29, 5:30p, Exhibition opens with Ribbon Cutting Ceremony & Keynote presentation with poet Thomas Lynch

Volunteers are needed to help with these events as well as hanging the "leaves" in the trees for the street exhibition. You can sign up and/or get more information at the reception.
 

All these events will be held at the Waterford Library, 5168 Civic Center Dr. in Waterford. For updated information visit www.poetry-leaves.com

Marketing Tip #32: New Feature on LinkedIn

Have you been wondering about the new “Endorsement” feature that LinkedIn introduced in early October? To get started, go into your LinkedIn profile section and add your “Skills and Expertise”. Next, similar to a Facebook “Like”, you can easily endorse your connections for a skill listed in their profile.You can do that one of two ways: at the top of your profile page, a “short-cut" graphic will appear showing your connections along with a recommended endorsement. Or, you can also go into their profile page and endorse them from their “Skills and Expertise” section. You may also suggest additional skills that may not be listed. Have questions about this new feature or on updating your profile? Feel free to call me 248-787-6623.

Marketing Tip #29 - Keep Eye Contact

When meeting someone in a networking situation, a simple technique that makes you memorable is to keep eye contact. As the other person talks, give them your full attention and nod your head from time-to-time letting them know that you are sincerely interested in the exchange. Don’t be scanning the room looking for the next conquest. There is nothing worse than spending any amount of time talking with someone who is mentally checked out and already on to the next person.  

Volunteering is Networking at its Best

“ Volunteers are not paid. Not because they are worth less ……. Because they are priceless”.
Seen on a sign at the Senior Center at the Costick Center in Farmington.

Summertime is generally a slower time of year for most of us, especially late July and August. I take advantage of this lull by volunteering with different organizations. Not only does the effort benefit a worthy cause, but it provides the perfect opportunity to network with people I wouldn’t ordinarily meet at an organized networking event.

Last year, I joined the VFW Oxbow Post #4156 to honor my father, a decorated WWII Navy veteran, and got recruited to be secretary of the Ladies Auxiliary. I have also offered my PR talents to help them promote their fundraising efforts. Are there also business owners and members of the Post that could benefit from my marketing services as potential clients? You betcha!

I help out quarterly at the West Bloomfield Friends of the Library annual used book sale at the West Bloomfield Township Public Library. Not only do I get first crack at the used books but I am working alongside community leaders and activists.

This is the second year that I volunteered at Detroit Bike Week  and it was three days of non-stop fun and interaction with all kinds of people. A highlight of the weekend was meeting Ryan “Opie” Hurst, one of the stars of the FX show, Sons of Anarchy, which is one of my favorite shows. www.detroitbikeweek.com

Coming up on Saturday, September 8, Heartfelt Harvest will be selling hot dogs outside of Busch’s (14 Mile and Farmington) as part of their Summer Block Party. Heartfelt Harvest is an independent, grass roots, non-profit organization that partners with local businesses, such as Busch’s, and delivers food daily to food pantries in Farmington Hills, Farmington and West Bloomfield. Stop by and I’ll sell you a hot dog or two.  https://www.facebook.com/#!/events/457303047633318/

The bottom line is that any time of year is the best time to put your energy into helping the community and as a secondary benefit, meeting and network with a diverse and “new” group of people. There is no shortage of organizations that can use your help and will welcome you with open arms.

It Happened Again! Guest Blogger Lin Klaassen Offers Some Advice

I’m not kidding when I say it happened again at another networking event that I was at a few days ago. Not once, not twice but three times. I was engaged in three different conversations and was rudely interrupted mid-sentence each time by a different person. And during two of the interruptions, I was ignored like I was invisible, while the interruptee talked only to the other person. C’mon people. . . .

Who better to give us some insight into how to solve this apparently common problem than guest blogger, Lin Klaassen, of Face Reading by Lin. She offers some suggestions on how to politely approach two people that are engaged in conversation by observing their face and body language.

“You should begin to approach slowly until you are in their peripheral vision and watch to read their reactions. Most people will instinctively turn towards you and most people read this as an invitation to approach. WRONG. They are only being polite.

Look to the feet for the truth. The face is the most expressive part of the body and the least honest. As we go through life, we train ourselves to respond in a socially acceptable manner, which is often far from how we are truly feeling. The feet are wired in our instinctual survival patterns and are the most honest part of the human body.

Both people have now turned a foot towards you. This is a signal that they are both comfortable with you joining them.

Always look at the feet of both people. If only one person has turned a foot towards you, do not approach. The person who has not turned a foot towards you will resent you approaching.

Just smile and keep walking. As the event continues, watch for them to go their separate ways or create an opportunity to walk by again and gauge your welcome at that time. Often, if they are winding down, they may both be ready for you to approach.”

For more fascinating face reading observations and workshops, visit Lin’s website at www.facereadingbylin.com. You can also hear my interview with Lin at http://tinyurl.com/d4njnfx

Networking Etiquette

It happens to all of us at one time or another at networking events. It happened twice during the same event last week. It happened again last night. I was engaged in an interesting conversation with someone and mid-sentence, another person came into our conversation by shoving a business card into our hands, and without skipping a beat, started spewing their all-about-me-and-my-business schpeil. No hello, no introduction, no preamble and not even an "excuse me".

Now let me ask you . . . if you barge into a conversation in progress, do you think that your message is going to be well received? All I can see are lips moving, but the words come out as blah, blah, blah. My frustration at being interrupted prevents me from focusing on the message they are trying to deliver.

We’ve all heard the expression, “You never get a second chance to make a first impression”. And at a networking event, a memorable first impression is even more important when you are meeting potential customers and business associates.

One of the biggest hurdles to overcome when walking into a room with a group of relative strangers, is the daunting task of just going up to someone and start a conversation. If you see someone you want to speak to and they are engaged in conversation, politely join their circle and try to assimilate into their discussion. At the appropriate moment you will be able to introduce yourself to them and explain what you do. By being less intrusive, they will be more receptive to your message.

When you work the room faster than the speed of light, no one remembers you or your message. What they will remember will not be so good. When you take the time to begin a relationship with that new person at the event, you can determine if they are a potential client or referral partner and whether or not your product or service is a fit. Or, at the very least, you may just make a new friend.

How Do You Show Your Appreciation?

Traditionally the holiday season is a time of thanksgiving, commemorating the birth of Jesus and celebrating the miracle of Hanukkah. This time of year has also become synonymous with gift-giving to family, friends and business associates.

At a recent Lunch n’ Learn session, hosted by Lori Williams of Your Legal Resource, the topic of the program was on ways to show appreciation to your customers and clients. If you weren’t at the lunch, you missed a lot of valuable suggestions for showing gratitude to your business associates not only at the holidays but for year-round gifting as well. Read her blog post on the roundtable discussion at http://www.bestlegalresource.com/.

Linda Anger, President of The Write Concept, (http://www.thewriteconcept.com/ ) told the group she makes it a point to learn as much as she can about her client or referral partner. “I get to know their likes, interests, taste in music, then customize a small gift such as a book or concert tickets to match their personality.” Since writing is her business, she takes pleasure in attaching a personalized, handwritten note along with the gift, thanking them for their business.

Here are some of the other suggestions for thoughtful gifts of appreciation:

Donations to a charity in the name of the person. Two suggestions are http://www.globalgiving.org/ or http://www.givingnote.org/

Bottle of wine from a local winery or beer from local brewery with your custom label on it

Gift card to Starbucks or other coffee or tea place

Gift card to restaurants

Deliver or send popcorn, bagels or coffee cakes, etc. to their office

Subscriptions to magazines

For many years, I’ve made it a point to meet with my clients and as many of my associates as I can between Thanksgiving and the year’s end and I bring them a little gift-wrapped package of homemade cookies. During the meetings I have in the summer months, I bring fresh or dried herbs or spices from my garden attached to a recipe card using that ingredient.

How do you show appreciation to your clients and business associates at this time of year and all year round?

Maurer Marketing Minutes #38-Cliff Suttle-Excite your Audience #1

Maurer Marketing Minutes #38-Cliff Suttle-Excite Your Audience #1
In the first of a three-part interview, Cliff Suttle, owner of Excite Your Audience, Executive Coach and author of “The Anti-Elevator Speech”, describes the traditional 30- or 60-second “elevator pitch” as just a glorified commercial. “We hate commercials and usually tune them out.” As an alternative, Suttle promotes engaging an individual in conversation by hooking them with a tag line, giving them just enough information to interest them. Then “shut up and make them ask for more”. Find out more about Cliff at his website www.ExciteYourAudience.com, or call him at 248-348-1023 or email him at Cliff@CliffSuttle.com.

Cliff Suttle-Public Speaking
Cliff Suttle-“How to become Meeting Royalty”

Maurer Marketing Minutes #30-Beverly Cornell-Mango Languages

Maurer Marketing Minutes #30-Beverly Cornell-Mango Languages
In Part 3 of our three-part interview, Beverly Cornell, Marketing and Social Media Director at Mango Languages, discusses what and what not to share on social media sites. She encourages users to share their “human” side, as well as reflecting their business personality as well. You need to know who your audience is and provide engaging content to interest them as followers. Contact Beverly directly at 248-254-7450 ext. 824 or email Beverly.Cornell@mangolanguages.com or visit Mango’s website at www.mangolanguages.com
Direct download: MMM-30-Beverly_Cornell-Mango_Languages.mp3

Maurer Marketing Minutes #29-Beverly Cornell-Mango Languages #2

Maurer Marketing Minutes #29-Beverly Cornell-Mango Languages
What is the personality of your ideal target customer? In Part 2 of our three-part interview, Beverly Cornell-McGlynn, Marketing and Social Media Expert and author of "Lemonade Tales", (formerly Marketing Director at Mango Languages), helps us to get clear on how to profile our potential clients and work within our budget to get the best ROI for our money. Find out more about Beverly at www.linkedin.com/in/beverlycornell or email her at beverlyrcornell@gmail.com.
Direct download: MMM-29-Beverly_Cornell-Mango_Languages-2.mp3

Maurer Marketing Minutes #28-Beverly Cornell-Mango Languages

Maurer Marketing Minutes #28-Beverly Cornell-Mango Languages
If your business brand was a person, what would he/she look like? Beverly Cornell-McGlynn, former Marketing and Social Media Director at Mango Languages, encourages business owners to put “fun” in their marketing effort. She says that by capturing your unique business personality in promoting your service or product, you will catch the attention of potential clients in a big way. The marketing strategy she instituted at Mango is a prime example. Contact Beverly at beverlyrcornell@gmail.com.
Direct download: MMM-28-Beverly_Cornell-Mango_Languages.mp3

Maurer Marketing Minutes 27-Barry Demp-Barry Demp Coaching

Maurer Marketing Minutes #27-Barry Demp-Barry Demp Coaching
Barry Demp, of Barry Demp Coaching, has coined the phrase “Social Capitalism”, which refers to the process of building business relationships and taking advantage of networking opportunities. In our interview, he discusses customizing your networking to reach your target customer and how to prioritize the time you devote to networking. Check out his website, www.dempcoaching.com, for more invaluable advice from the first Master Certified Coach in Michigan.
Direct download: MMM-27-Barry_Demp-Barry_Demp_Coaching.mp3

Maurer Marketing Minutes #19-Lori T. Williams-Your Legal Resource

Maurer Marketing Minutes #19-Lori T. Williams-Your Legal Resource
Your business specialty, or niche market, determines how you will promote your product or service within your particular industry. Lori Williams, attorney and owner of Your Legal Resource, has found her niche as a legal matchmaker, connecting clients in need of legal advice or representation with experienced Metro Detroit attorneys. She tells us how to find our own niche. Lori can be reached at 248-594-4470 , email: lori@bestlegalresource.com or visit her website at www.bestlegalresource.com.
Direct download: MMM-19-Lori_T_Williams-Your_Legal_Resource.MP3

Maurer Marketing Minutes #15-Dave Tear-The Sales Coaches Corner

Maurer Marketing Minutes #15-Dave Tear-The Sales Coaches Corner
For most of us, giving referrals to our business associates is not a new concept. Shelves of books have been written about the subject, like “Endless Referrals” or “The Go-Giver” by Bob Burg. Networking organizations such as Local Business Network (LBN) or Business Network International (BNI) revolve around the referral giving concept. In this segment, Dave Tear, owner of The Sales Coaches Corner, gives us an in-depth definition of how to give qualified leads to our associates, what he calls “referrals on steroids”. Find out more about Dave by visiting his website at www.salescoachescorner.com or give him a call at 248-514-4282 or email dave@salescoachescorner.com.
Direct download: MMM-15-David_Tear-Sales_Coaches_Corner.mp3

Maurer Marketing Minutes #11-Bernie Stevens-BSA Events & Entertainment

Maurer Marketing Minutes ##11-Bernie Stevens-BSA Events & Entertaininment
When I first met Bernie Stevens, President of BSA Events & Entertainment, he was just starting out in his business. Over the past 25 years, he has gone from working out of his home to working out of two offices in two different states. When he first used direct mail campaigns, the labels were typed using a typewriter. Bernie’s tells us how direct mail options have changed and how he prioritizes his networking to capture his target market. I caught up with him in his Ohio office, just before he left for Las Vegas. You can reach him at 1-800-4-BERNIE or visit his website at www.BernieStevens.com.
Direct download: MMM-11-Bernie_Stevens-BSA_Events.mp3

Maurer Marketing Minutes #9-Diane Dunn-Harpist & Author

Maurer Marketing Minutes #9-Diane Dunne-Harpist & Children's Author

A few years ago, harpist and children’s author Diane Dunn wanted to diversify her entertainment business into the corporate community. So she hired a publicist and joined a couple chambers of commerce. Diane’s business soon tripled and now she’s having way too much fun! You can’t help but smile as you listen to all her adventures. Contact her at 313-938-9847, email: heartandharp@comcast.net, visit her website: http://www.heartandharp.net . Read about her lost and found harp: Http://www.detnews.com/article/20100325/OPINION03/3250398/Odyssey-of-pluck-and-luck

Direct download: MMM-9-Diane_Dunn-Harpist.mp3

Maurer Marketing Minutes #8-Natalie DeLeo-Mortgage Resource Plus

Maurer Marketing Minutes #8-Natalie DeLeo-Mortgage Resource Plus

Following in the footsteps of her father Jerry, Natalie DeLeo has mastered the art of cultivating “clients for life”. As a loan consultant and marketing director at Mortgage Resource Plus, she has relied on word-of-mouth referrals for over 25 years, as her company does not advertise its services. She believes that “in today’s competitive marketplace, not only should you be delivering beyond the clients’ expectations, you must be able to become a great resource for your clients’ needs”. During our interview, Natalie explains how she does just that. She is an author and is featured in the book, “30 Day Total Business Makeover” published by Minesh Baxi. To find out more information about Natalie, email her at Natalie@mrploan.com or call 248-642-4600 Ext 110.

Direct download: Natalie DeLeo-Mortgage Resource Plus

Maurer Marketing Minutes #5-Pam Jackson-Michigan State Senate Candidate

Maurer Marketing Minutes #5-Pam Jackson-Michigan State Senate Candidate

We love them. We hate them. But no matter what your opinions are about politicians, Republican or Democrat, we can all agree that those campaigning for public office are the masters of networking. Pam Jackson, democratic candidate for Michigan State Senate in the 15^th District, is a professor at Oakland Community College. In our interview, she takes us through her grassroots effort of getting her name out to the voters of northwestern Oakland County. Contact her at www.PamJackson4statesenate.com

Direct download: Pam_Jackson-State_Senate_Candidate_District_15.MP3

Maurer Marketing Minutes #2-Dan Walker-River’s End Consulting

Maurer Marketing Minutes #2-Dan Walker-River's End Consulting
Dan Walker, President of River’s End Consulting, doesn’t just take anyone to be his client. Influenced by the process named the “Red Velvet Rope Policy”, taken from the book, “Book Yourself Solid” by Michael Port, Dan has adapted a unique way for picking and screening his potential clients. With over twenty years of corporate experience, Dan is a business trainer and mentor. He is also the author of “the Customer’s Way”, which presents a novel approach to building better customer relations. Dan can be reached by email at dan@riversendconsulting.com, or by phone at 248-770-2554 or visit his website at www.RiversEndConsulting.com. 
Direct download: MMM-2-Dan_Walker-Rivers_End_Consulting.mp3