News and Events

Charlie Hicks Interviews Thor Harris, President & CEO of Percepture
The Flag News Show - KAFF AM 930
Air Date: September 13, 2011

Part 1 of the interview:

Part 2 of the interview:

Dear Gracie: How to Network Like a Pro

Dear Gracie,

I'm attending an important networking event next month and would like to get some tips on how I can make the most of it and come off like a real pro.

Networking Newbie

**********

Dear Networking Newbie,

Here is advice from 12 ProfNet experts:

"The old adage 'It's not what you know, it's WHO you know," has never been truer," says Virginia Hemby-Grubb, a business communications professor at Middle Tennessee State University. "Building a network of contacts is important -- whether you're seeking a job or looking to build business."

To network, you need to show up to events and be "present," says Lloyd Princeton, managing member at iMatchDesigners and managing director at Design Management Company. By "present," he means don't talk with your colleagues or surf the Internet on your phone during an event. You should go with the intention of meeting someone that you don't know.

So remember to fish where the fish are, says Thor Harris, president at Percepture, Inc., a marketing and PR firm. Don't attend your own industry's networking events if you're looking for potential clients. With so many similar people at the same event looking for the same potential clients, you won't make any headway, he says.

For example, if you're a PR professional trying to expand business into the technology sector, don't attend a PR event. Instead, attend a technology conference.

Prepare

"When attending a networking event or opportunity, individuals should take personal business cards (either hard copy or e-cards), says Hemby-Grubb. "People stand a far better chance of remembering individuals they meet when they have a business card for reference."

Also, bring a notepad and pen, says Muzafer Najfi, professional network marketer and co-author of "Wealth Matters Makeover Edition." During the event, take notes for future reference.

You don't need to bring your resume unless specifically requested, says Hemby-Grubb, but keep your resume up-to-date, just in case someone asks you to email it afterwards.

Determine the makeup and focus of the networking event ahead of time, so that you can prepare for the group that will be in attendance, says Billie Blair, president of Change Strategists, Inc., a management consultant company. Who would you like to meet? Acquire a guest list if possible and research the companies ahead of time.

Make a networking plan and carry it forward, agrees Adrian Miller, president of Adrian Miller Sales Training, a sales and customer service consulting agency. Make a goal for how many people you want to meet.

Having goals and objectives is the clear difference between socializing and effective business networking, says Holly Munter Koenig, vice president of Kellen Company, a business management, PR and marketing company.

So prepare what you will say when you meet someone, says Blair. What are the most important things to convey about yourself and your business? Consider how you will get introduced or how you will introduce yourself.

Work the Room

Go to the event early, says Miller. "By doing that, you are the 'center of influence,' and everyone gravitates towards you."

Don't arrive late, or you'll only meet the coat-check person, agrees Drew Stevens, president of Stevens Consulting Agency, and an expert in sales and business development.

"Don't make a beeline for the food and drink," says Jacqueline Whitmore, international etiquette expert, certified speaking professional and founder of The Protocol School, a business etiquette consulting firm. Eat a little something before you go to an event. "Scope out the crowd first and the goodies second," she says. Don't talk with your mouth full, and carry your glass in your left hand, so you can shake with your right.

Also, if there's an open bar at the event, remember that it's not an open invitation to drink yourself into oblivion, Whitmore continues. "Indulging in too much alcohol could have unfavorable repercussions if you're not careful. To maintain your professionalism, limit your alcohol intake to one or two drinks."

Avoid talking with only those you know well. Circulate, and introduce yourself and your guest to others, says Whitmore.

But don't bring a guest to an event unless the invitation made it clear that guests are welcome, says Whitmore. It's not an open house, so plans have been based on a specific number of attendees.

A good place to meet and greet, and see and be seen, is near the entrance, says Whitmore.

"As far as introductions go, you should smile, make eye contact, extend your hand and introduce yourself," says Hemby-Grubb. "Women, especially, should make the first handshake contact, as men may be hesitant in some cases to extend a hand -- thinking mistakenly that they should not do so."

Nervousness is nothing to be ashamed of, says Jill Spiegel, author and founder of Goal Getters, a communications consulting firm. "It means you care," she says. So go ahead and approach someone and introduce yourself. "Your genuineness and courage will create an instant connection."

"When you first learn someone's name, think of someone you know or someone well-known with the same name. Picture that familiar face next to this new face," says Spiegel. "This easy visualization locks names in your mind."

If you can't remember someone's name, don't fret, says Whitmore. "Simply say: 'I'm sorry, it's been one of those days and I've gone blank. Please tell me your name.'"

Likewise, if you have a name that is difficult to pronounce or spell, do something when you say your name so people will remember you when you say hello, says Susan Blond, president at Susan Blond, Inc., an entertainment and lifestyle publicity agency.

If you're the less famous person, don't remind the person who forgot you that you remember them, unless you want to appeal to their ego, says Blond.

When introducing two friends, mention what they have in common to get the conversation started, Blond continues. You don't even have to remember their names to do this!

And remember, people often make the mistake of wanting to hand out their business card to everyone they meet, says Shari Alexander, founder and president of Presenting Matters, a business presentation consulting firm. "Instead, your focus should be on getting the business card from every person you talk to. That way, the power and ability to follow up with them is in your hands."

"Do your best to write on each business card where you met the person, along with any other details about them and your conversation," Alexander continues. "You will meet many people and it will be hard to keep them all straight days after the event. This will help jog your memory."

Make Real Connections

"To establish a rapport with someone, you should begin the conversation with small talk because everyone can participate in the conversation, since it involves general information or topics," says Hemby-Grubb.

For example, Blair reads up on world events prior to a networking event. After sensing something about the person he's talking to, he will make remarks on a current topic he thinks the person will find interesting.

This will allow you to appear knowledgeable, and lets the other person affiliate you to a greater degree with specific thoughts and views, he says. "In other words, you begin to establish a relationship."

People generally like to talk about themselves, so ask questions, says Hemby-Grubb. The more you encourage them to talk, the better. Choose thoughtful questions, ask them slowly and give the individual time to talk, she says.

"When you are passionately curious about other people, you make them feel interesting, special and connected to you," says Spiegel.

To start engaging conversations, Najfi recommends following F.O.R.M.:

* Family: "Tell me about your family."
* Occupation: "What do you do for a living?"
* Recreation: "What do you do for fun?"
* Motivation: "What do you like most, and what do you like least?"

During your conversations, if someone offers you advice, make them feel helpful, says Spiegel. "We all encounter people who give us advice that we didn't ask for or agree with. If we respond by explaining why their suggestion won't work, we disconnect and create tension." So respond with appreciation and diplomacy.

Also, help people who brag feel successful, says Spiegel. Instead of feeling the need to compete with them, celebrate with them. It will instantly create a warm connection.

When people criticize, we tend to label them as negative, Spiegel continues. But once we understand where their negativity comes from, we can connect with them through questions and empathy. By asking them questions about what they are unhappy with, you'll validate them. "When people who criticize feel understood and appreciated, they become receptive and supportive."

Furthermore, don't gossip at events, as it creates mistrust, she says. Others will wonder: "What will this person say about me?" If you hear gossip from someone else, change the direction of the conversation.

At some point in the conversation, the individual with whom you are speaking will want to learn more about you, says Hemby Grubb.

"Wait until they ask you about your business," says Miller. If they don't, they're not worth your time.

When someone asks you a question, respond with passion and purpose, and don't give a generic answer, says Spiegel.

Usually people answer "What do you do for a living?" with a simple description, like "I'm a designer." But that kind of response doesn't invite a meaningful connection, she says. Instead, say something like:

I own a design company called Patterns. I love to brighten homes with colors and textures. I also enjoy playing tennis.

Sharing your interests will help you connect with the individual on more topics, she says.

But don't speak for too long or dominate the conversation, reminds Hemby-Grubb. "Your goal is to learn as much as possible about the individual."

"Be alert to the interest level generated by the conversation," says Blair. Timing is an important component of networking, as your objective is to meet more people and spread the word of your company more broadly. "When there is no obvious interest, it's time to move on and find someone else with whom to converse."

When it's time to end the conversation, exit with "compliment, feedback, compliment," says Spiegel. Say something like: "It's been so much fun talking with you. I'm going to go check out the band. Your smile has given me a lift!" Surrounding your exit statement with two compliments keeps your connection lasting.

Follow Up

When you return home or to the office after this networking event, send a message or leave a voicemail message telling the individual how much you enjoyed meeting him or her, says Hemby-Grubb. Repeat something from the conversation to remind the individual of some commonalities. Be sincere, but not sappy.

Follow up immediately, Miller agrees. "Time counts."

Generic follow-up emails are boring and easily ignored, says Alexander. "Personalizing every follow-up email may take more time, but it yields higher replies." He suggests writing something like this:

It was great meeting you at (insert event here)! I really enjoyed talking with you about (insert personalized information referring to previous conversation here). I definitely want to keep in touch to learn more about you and your business. Do you have any time for a casual phone chat in the next couple of weeks? Here are my upcoming available times: X, Y, Z. Looking forward to talking again!

Also, send a thank-you note to key persons who helped organize the event and to those who made the event possible, says Whitmore. "Saying thank you is not only cordial behavior, but will make you stand out from those who don't express their gratitude."

"To build and maintain a personal network, you have to be willing to spend the necessary time to remain connected with the members of your network. Merely making an initial contact and moving forward does not ensure continuity of your network," says Hemby-Grubb.

Join and participate in organizations where you would come into contact with this individual; send occasional email messages to say hello, seek advice, etc.; join LinkedIn and see if the individual is also a member, and if so, make a connection, says Hemby-Grubb.

Set a reminder to check in with them again, like every six months, just to stay on track, suggests Princeton.

Networking works like gardening, says Miller. "Plant seeds, and perhaps you can get results in a few weeks, months, years."

And remember that most people genuinely want to help, but are often too busy to stop and understand how they can help, says Princeton. You must lead them, and most importantly, send something their way first.

Read Original story:

http://www.profnetconnect.com/gracelavigne/blog/2011/09/21/dear_gracie:_...

"Growing Your Small Business"
with Thor Harris, President & CEO of Percepture
WFME - Family Stations, Inc.
Air Date: September 17, 2011

Tips and Insights from the Percepture Community

You have to have 25 fans on your page to have you choice of a URL, so before launching, make sure you get the needed 25 likes, then get your customized URL. It just looks so much better!

– Tal Givon, TriPlay

Reporters are people too. They have deadlines they have to meet and a boss they have to please. Make it easy for them to do their job and you will have a better chance to get coverage for your client. Also, talk to reporters like you would speak to anyone else in business. You are selling ideas to reporters like you sell products to consumers.

– Elizabeth Sedlock, Percepture

[Another great time to use Facebook] is generally after office hours. I see this with friends. They tend to open the computer after dinner and often stay logged on for hours once the kids are in bed. This could be because you can really give your attention to what you are reading and act accordingly instead of giving posts partial attention or maybe none at all when instead what was received could be the most interesting and worthwhile of your life.

– Micky Carmagnola, PharmaChem, NutraCos & NutraCos Cosmetics

Each post should endeavor to have an “aha” moment, a nugget of information or an idea that grabs the reader’s attention. An example is the news that Ghengis Khan used sea buckthorn berries to keep his horses in tip-top shape.

– Elizabeth Romanaux, Liberty Science Center

Tell your network, Facebook or LinkedIn or both, of your travel schedule. This is especially useful for those sales people calling upon military bases. With new security rules in place, a salesperson cannot go "cold calling" on military bases anymore. But if members of your network see that you will be in their town, they are more likely to invite you on base.

– Gordon Stables

Whenever possible, place pictures of your targets on the social media page, as most people love to see photos of themselves. This can be done by the advertiser acquiring the photo or by simply allowing the target to supply their own photos.

– Brian Hester, Regus

There's a ton of "insight" floating out there and just a ton of data that it's sometimes hard to sift through what's legit and what's propaganda.

For a client of mine (B2C), a huge driver to his site and his restaurant has been his social media presence. I've created a community within Facebook that people can have a two-way dialogue with me. This indirectly creates a positive association with the brand. I would say the biggest driver towards getting more "likes" on his Facebook has been contests. This may not work on the B2B side but it's wildly successful on the B2C side. People love free stuff and it really creates a ton of buzz and engagement along with added value towards liking the Facebook fan page.

Just last week we ran a contest on what the Packers/Saints game score would be. The person(s) who got the best prediction got some free stuff. They were thrilled and the results were great. It's really a great way to go viral within Facbeook. As people respond to a post of mine, it's aggregated into other friends' feeds and that's how awareness is built.
– Stuart McMullin

Ten Seconds is All You Get

Good news: Most people would rather watch a video than read a long section of text on your website.

Bad news: While a video may get you more hits, you only have between 10-30 seconds to get their attention! How should you do it?

- Be wacky or unexpected early on
- Make a bold claim about your site or product
- Write a song!
- Consider animation (which actually loads faster!)

You'll have plenty of time in the latter part of your video to go into detail about whatever you want to say – the people who stick around are officially interested. But to get them to want to stick around, you're going to have to grab those lapels early and shake 'em!

– Randee Dawn Cohen, Percepture

I have a tip for everyone, and it's one that I struggle with at my own company: frequent keyword updating. If you're doing your SEO on your own, you need to re-evaluate it at least once a month. Google and the other search engines are CONSTANTLY changing their algorithms, so your page might show up near the top of the list one day, then be on page 5 the next. By consistently updating keywords, you're more likely to be on the first page of people's queries.
– Marc Paxton

The best days of the week to send out a mailing are either Tuesday or Wednesday.
– Erin Clabiorne, Chemical Information Services

Provide Value – Although this seems obvious, many companies are not intentional enough about doing this. Prospective customers need to feel that you're genuinely interested in helping them. It's a turn-off to receive constant sales pitches from a company without the relationship being enriched in some way. Think about providing practical, informative content. A blog, e-newsletter or online resource center where people can go for free advice, tips or other useful info can be very helpful. Utilize your social media channels to answer questions and share your expertise. Have real conversations. Be warm, funny, engaging and patient. Treating people well over time will yield rewards!
– Rob Monroe, 3rd Edge Communications

On Fridays we have FACEBOOK FRIDAY with our listeners.
– kolo Barrera, EXITOS 93.9FM

Good with words? Start blogging about your product or service. Sites like Blogger.com allow you free access to blog about the usefulness or enjoyment of using your product, and the more interest you generate from blogging, the more likely your company name will pop up on servers like Google when key words are typed.
– Joanne Borden, MmmmPop!

Gun for the Share/RT. If you truly want to stand out as a brand, create content and conversations that are so remarkable that others are compelled to spread the word on your behalf. Tweeting and posting Facebook updates that resonate should be the ultimate objective and drive content strategy for social media. I measure percent of re-tweets per tweets to gauge the effectiveness of our programs.
– Kent Lewis, Anvil Media, Inc.

As a publisher of a newspaper, I believe in a media mix for all businesses – even my own! I’m currently on the radio, and I have a social media guru handle my business tweets. In the world of advertising, the key is having a presence in your community as a viable and thriving business, using social media as a speedy and "pop culture/hip" approach to marketing and finally, being CONSISTANTLY seen and heard by your potential customer.
– Cami Gunther, The Monmouth & Ocean Family Times

Going Social with Events

Social media can be a powerful tool with events, whether they are large industry tradeshows or small, intimate group gatherings. Here are two quick ways to market events using social media:

Consider creating a Facebook event to quickly and inexpensively promote your event. Create an event on your business or fan page, and send invitations to have participants RSVP. You can also ask for pre-event input via posts and polls, and upload past event videos or photos to share a glimpse of what the event is about. Once the event is over, extend your event's reach to those who couldn't make it by posting commentaries, creating photo albums, or adding video taken during the event.

You can also host a Tweetup, which is an offline meet-up organized via Twitter. Because Tweetups are a great way to meet people, you might have an event Tweetup that provides participants an exclusive opportunity to meet and greet a company executive or industry celebrity. Pick a venue that can accommodate more than you expect – after all, word could spread quickly if the Tweetup topic is hot. And have a defined purpose/agenda, whether it is a social or professional gathering.

– Elaine Cohen, Live Marketing

Question: Shopping for an SEO firm? Be sure to ask these questions!

- Are you going to make any changes to my website? If so, what kind of changes can I expect?
- Are you going to help create the content? Will you be updating pages?
- Besides updating my website, what else are you going to do?
- Will you be targeting new keywords over time?
- What types of guarantees can you provide? (Tip: No SEO company should guarantee anything!)

– Candice Wirth, Premiere Creative

My nugget or thought on public relations is: LEVITY! Adding a bit of levity or humor when conversing with your clients or prospectives can make even the hardest news to hear a little easier!
– Tiffany Harris-Greene

Battle of the B’s

Business card, brochure or book? Which are you handing to your clients and prospects?

In today’s world of self-proclaimed experts and specialists, the differentiator in your prospects’ eyes is the book.

Author says expert, while business card and brochure say salesman. Author says, “May I ask you a few questions?” While the others say, “Is he gone yet?”

If the task of writing a book is daunting, that’s okay, do it anyway. Remember this…it’s also daunting to your competition, so it’s a wonderful barrier to entry.

Here is my secret formula for writing a book in 90 days:

- Imagine you were coaching your child on how to succeed in your industry by giving them all of the tips that you can think of. For the next 30 days, write down 3-5 tips per day. Don’t elaborate or worry whether or not it’s a duplicate. Just write.

- Once you have them all written, organize them and combine tips that are closely related.

- Now take the tips and expand upon them. Tell me exactly what you think I should know.

- Hire an editor to help you organize your efforts and provide you with a sounding board.

- Hire a designer to do the book cover and layout.

- Self-publish your masterpiece.

Here’s the most important thing to remember, have fun with it. And don’t forget, your book that you think is “just okay” is incredible next to your competition that doesn’t have a book.

– Michael Palumbos, Michael Palumbos Family Wealth Advisor

In this age of technology, I think there is a danger of either downplaying or forgetting the importance of the ultimate technology – which is us. Such thoughts are what kept me up.

- Attitude – Can do, will do.

- Smile – Whether eyeball-to-eyeball, through the Internet, in a telephone conversation, or in a letter or report – smile, it shows.

- Be a good listener – Think about what you are hearing rather than what you are going to say next.

- Enthusiasm – In body language, tone of voice and how you think will make things happen.

- Be a good communicator – That's what it's all about.

– Bill Caldwell

You can assign your Facebook page a designated URL after reaching a threshold of fans (I think it's around 30). For example, www.facebook.com/openrangecommunications.
– Q Saeed, Open Range Communications

Give and You Shall Receive: Using Giveaways to Get Response

No matter how interesting the news or information that you have to share, nothing increases banner clicks and conversions like a featured offer, discount, giveaway or contest. Today, we will focus on “the Giveaway” since by responding to this Percepture email request for Top Ideas, you may have been a little more motivated than usual to respond thanks to Percepture’s cool giveaway! C’mon, just admit it! The Giveaway made you go from just thinking “neat idea” to actually hitting the reply button to send in your neat idea!

So, what makes a good giveaway? The possibilities are endless and limited to only your imagination, but there are a few tips from the trenches that will help you ensure your giveaway keeps on giving:

Where to Start?

Start with your goals. What is it you want someone to do? Do you want them to “like” you on Facebook or are you trying to attract new customers to your email list? Your goals actually will help you determine the details around your giveaway. By way of example, if your goal is to simply attract new email opt-ins, the entry for the giveaway could be triggered by referring at least five friends to receive an invitation from your site to opt-in. Each referral becomes an entry for the giveaway. Or, if your goal is to get more postings on your Facebook page or blog, the entry requirement to the giveaway could be forum postings. Each qualified forum posting is an entry to win the giveaway. Or in the case of Percepture, this valuable marketers tip will get me one entry closer to a winning that new Samsung Galaxy tablet that I so desperately want!

What is a Good Giveaway and How Much To Spend?

Get a great prize sponsor and you can spend zero in exchange for giving the prize donator key visibility in front of your great audience. Not lucky enough to have a sponsor? Well, let the giveaway prize fit your audience and let the giveaway spend fit your budget/ROI. For example, a motivational prize on a sports fan site is not a year supply of diapers. That may go over well on the mommy blogger site whereas some highly prized tickets to an upcoming game is sure to motivate most sports fans.

Okay, matching the prize to the audience may not be the hard part because most of you know your audiences and customers pretty well (or at least I hope you’ve been mining your web data and know who loves ya, baby). The harder part of prizing is often determining how much to spend? Quite simply, a good giveaway prize is a marriage between your budget and ultimate campaign goals. Back to Percepture. They really want to generate some great content and leads for Perceture.com. They could purchase content and email lists from a host of various providers and easily spend about $600 in the process. Alternatively, they could solicit some really creative, useful, intelligent and fresh content from their clients/subscribers by virtue of the lure of a super cool giveaway. I’d say that was a smart move, Percepture, and you married your budget to your business goals quite nicely!

Another consideration on what makes a good giveaway is being able to feature and showcase the actual prize in your marketing materials. Shiny images are motivational and if you choose a prize that allows you to feature the prize imagery and brand name in your marketing materials, that can make your giveaway all the more tangible and attractive. But, you’ll have to balance the need for an attractive prize image with fulfillment. What makes a good giveaway should also include an eye toward fulfillment of the prize. An e-prize/gift card is often easiest to fulfill and saves on time and shipping costs. A big screen TV offers a very attractive image but a less attractive option when it comes time to fulfill and ship. When the shipper says the prize was delivered but the recipient says it was never arrived, who wants to sit on the phone figuring this one out? Not me!

Other Footnotes on Prizing and Fulfillment

The giveaway rules and directions need to be really clear and simple. Giveaway participants should understand that if they complete THESE actions, they will be RANDOMLY selected to win THIS prize. Some items to be sure to include are: details on the prize, the start and end date of the giveaway, how and when the winner(s) will be selected, and who is eligible or not eligible (for example, residents of New Jersey are not eligible to participate or family members and employees of XYZ company are not eligible to participate). As always, be sure you are aware of any state rules/regulations on mail and Internet contests and giveaways. A good resource for marketers can be found at the Direct Marketing Association’s website (www.dmaresponsibility.org/sweepstakes).

Be sure that you have a plan to visibly announce the winner publicly in addition to reaching out to the winner via their contact information. For example, check our Facebook page on X date to learn if you are a winner. And last but not least, deliver the prize promptly and maybe even create another media opportunity around the prize winner (with their permission, of course).

A Few Final Thoughts

Don’t make entering the giveaway complex. The entry form should be accomplished in just 3 to 4 easy steps, no more. You’re not building a mousetrap here…this is just a fun but successful giveaway!

And, make sure you say, up front, that any personal information entered for purposes of the giveaway will not be sold or shared. Personal information is used only to notify the winner(s).

– Linda C., American Airlines

Did you know that Saturday is the most active day for sharing content on Facebook?

This means that companies should post relevant news to Facebook every Friday, so the news has the best chance to be shared among users. Engagement – posting responses to questions and comments on your Facebook page – on a Saturday is VERY effective.

The key is to engage your audience and create conversations and interactions. Ask questions. Say something interesting. Facebook is not about advertising your product or service but about connecting and communicating. While the number of posts can make an impact, it is most important to respond to comments from fans and add meaningful commentary to the page. Also, keep in mind that 1-2 posts per day is about the right frequency.

From Carol Tice at Entrepreneur.com: A 10-Step Double-Dip Survival Guide for Entrepreneurs | Blog | Daily Dose | Entrepreneur.com

What can you do to make sure your business thrives even if the economy goes down the tubes again? Here are 10 ideas, from marketing and business-wealth expert Thor Harris, president of the PR firm Percepture and some from moi:

1. Look for opportunities. As weaker players falter, you could see a chance to gain market share. Move into new markets, add new products, or consider acquiring a floundering competitor to gain their customer list and territory.

2. Reconsider your products. Is what you’re selling what customers need today? If not, it may be time for a change. Update your products, add new flavors, or bundle them into groups to offer more possible ways to buy at a better perceived value.

3. Revisit your packaging. If you sell physical goods, ask yourself if your packages look appealing and current. If not, it’s a good time to refresh your packaging. It gives you an opportunity to promote the product with a new angle.

4. Reconsider your pricing. The ideal is not to cut prices, but to find ways to strengthen your offering at the current price. For instance, could you offer a bonus product or service to make the product more irresistible?

5. Seek new alliances. Harris has a great tip here: Ask your attorney, accountant and other business professionals you use to refer you business. Tell them you’ll do the same for them. Promise them a commission for referring you clients. Do the same with your current clients. Let them know you offer a referral bonus.

6. Ramp up your marketing. Others will pull back, so you’ll get more visibility for your advertising dollar. Take advantage of free social-media marketing tools and learn how to get the most out of them. Harris recommends upping your knowledge of LinkedIn in particular.

7. Improve your cash flow cycle. Could you trim inventory? Get better terms from vendors? See what you can do to manage your cash and keep it in your account longer.

8. Expand your network. Harris says networking is key when times get tougher. Set a goal of attending two in-person networking events every week — and not ones focused on your industry. Mix it up and get to know new people in other sectors who might be customers, or refer you business.

9. Refinance. If you have business debt that’s in more than one lump — an equipment lease here, a credit line there, a racked business credit card — now’s a great time to explore whether you could reorganize and get better terms with a single loan or credit line. Even reorganizing onto one card that’s offering a zero-interest balance transfer could help cut expenses. For loans and credit lines, interest rates will probably never be lower.

10. Don’t burn out. Harris recommends taking one full day a week off, no matter what.

Read the original article at:
http://blog.incontextmultimedia.com/2011/09/10-ways-to-thrive-in-the-ong...

While most companies are focused on surviving the recession, smart companies are making efforts to grow during the recession.

Thor Harris, small business wealth expert and president of Percepture, a marketing, branding and strategic media relations company, gives BusinessNewsDaily readers advice on how to expand your business while others around you are floundering.

Expand your sphere of influence. Networking is key. Set a goal of attending an outside event where you can make new business contacts two nights a week. Do not attend industry-focused networking events. There are too many similar people looking for the same potential clients at these kinds of events.

Cut the fat out of your current budget. Look at everything you can trim that is nonessential and reevaluate your entire budget.

Tap in to your attorneys and accountants for business referrals. Remind your contacts that you will give them a percent of any new business they throw your way. Same with your current clients, ask them for recommendations and referrals.

Use social media tools. LinkedIn is an excellent way to tap into new prospects, but most people don't use it or know how to. Learn how to use LinkedIn.

Take a break. Running your own business is hard. Take one full day off a week and turn everything off. Recharging your personal batteries is a must.

Harris has managed public relations and innovative marketing programs for some of the world's largest companies and best-known brands — including Daimler-Chrysler, Sony, Foot Locker, The Islands Of The Bahamas, Ingersoll Rand, Konica Minolta, Century 21 and ChevronTexaco. He sits on the Board Member of the American Red Cross, Business Marketing Association, and the New Jersey Entrepreneur Network and is a member of the NJ Technology Council and the American Chemical Society.

Read the original article at:
http://www.businessnewsdaily.com/tips-grow-business-recession-1762/

It's what many business owners have feared most: the economy may be headed down without ever really having gone back up from the 2008 downturn.

1. Look for opportunities. As weaker players falter, you could see a chance to gain market share. Move into new markets, add new products, or consider acquiring a floundering competitor to gain their customer list and territory.

2. Reconsider your products. Is what you're selling what customers need today? If not, it may be time for a change. Update your products, add new flavors, or bundle them into groups to offer more possible ways to buy at a better perceived value.

3. Revisit your packaging. If you sell physical goods, ask yourself if your packages look appealing and current. If not, it's a good time to refresh your packaging. It gives you an opportunity to promote the product with a new angle.

4. Reconsider your pricing. The ideal is not to cut prices, but to find ways to strengthen your offering at the current price. For instance, could you offer a bonus product or service to make the product more irresistible?

5. Seek new alliances. Harris has a great tip here: Ask your attorney, accountant and other business professionals you use to refer you business. Tell them you'll do the same for them. Promise them a commission for referring you clients. Do the same with your current clients. Let them know you offer a referral bonus.

6. Ramp up your marketing. Others will pull back, so you'll get more visibility for your advertising dollar. Take advantage of free social-media marketing tools and learn how to get the most out of them. Harris recommends upping your knowledge of LinkedIn in particular.

7. Improve your cash flow cycle. Could you trim inventory? Get better terms from vendors? See what you can do to manage your cash and keep it in your account longer.

8. Expand your network. Harris says networking is key when times get tougher. Set a goal of attending two in-person networking events every week -- and not ones focused on your industry. Mix it up and get to know new people in other sectors who might be customers, or refer you business.

9. Refinance. If you have business debt that's in more than one lump -- an equipment lease here, a credit line there, a racked business credit card -- now's a great time to explore whether you could reorganize and get better terms with a single loan or credit line. Even reorganizing onto one card that's offering a zero-interest balance transfer could help cut expenses. For loans and credit lines, interest rates will probably never be lower.

10. Don't burn out. Harris recommends taking one full day a week off, no matter what.

New York, NY (June 19, 2010) - The famed Alexandria Library in Alexandria, Egypt hosted A New Beginning, a global conference from June 14-17 focused on addressing the need to improve relations between young people in the Middle East and the United States. Central to the four-day conference was a multi-part dialogue about the impact of social media on improving long-term relations.

Thor Harris, president of Percepture, was asked to sit on a panel of social media experts to discuss the role of music and social media in this process. Thor's discussion focused on one of Percepture's clients - Share The Mic (www.sharethemic.com). Share The Mic is an organization that pairs non-profit organizations with emerging musical artists to create multi-dimensional promotional campaigns, including social media and online video, which increase awareness and relevance among younger audiences. The enthusiastic response to Share The Mic accelerated the company's growth significantly, including firm plans to open an office in the Middle East by year-end.

"It was satisfying to see the impact Share The Mic had on the audience in Egypt, moving them to consider how music and social media can connect people in meaningful ways," said Thor Harris, president of Percepture.

New York, NY (September 15, 2010) - Ed Randall's Fans For The Cure charity launched the first-ever BLUETEMBER campaign designed to increase awareness among American men about the need - and simplicity - of getting screened for prostate cancer. Percepture was engaged to help spread the word about the initiative through strategic social media and public relations programs.

Among the key initiatives of the campaign was promoting New York Governor David A. Patterson's proclamation that September be known as BLUETEMBER in New York. Percepture issues three other releases in conjunction with the BLUETEMBER launch.

"Helping to raise awareness among my peers about the need to get tested for prostate cancer was an opportunity I dove into headfirst," said Thor Harris, president of Percepture. "Men are often reticent about getting tested for prostate cancer, which, as it turns out, affects more men than breast cancer effects women. I think our efforts reminded and perhaps encouraged many guys to do the right thing and get tested."

New York, NY (August 25, 2010) - Percepture continues its winning ways, recently signing three new clients including Pac-West, Renu Mobile and Connell Industries. This continues a trend of new account wins dating back to the beginning of 2010.

"I'm really proud of the progress our firm has made in establishing engagements with these three top-notch organizations," noted Colleen Conover, vice president for Percepture. "Our experience and commitment to driving sales for clients make Percepture an easy choice for a firm looking to boost its bottom line using PR and social media marketing."

LAKE HIAWATHA, NJ -- (September 30, 2008) – Thor Harris, President of Percepture, Inc., a leading public relations agency, was named a 2008 Forty Under 40 recipient by NJBIZ. The publication honored Thor, and 39 other New Jersey business achievers, for their professional excellence and dedication to community service.

An independent panel of judges chose the winners from a large and highly competitive pool of individuals nominated by peers, mentors and members of the community. Judging was based on a point system that rated the nominees in the areas of excellence in business, commitment to community and professional achievement.

“It was an honor to be recognized among an esteemed group of peers in the business community,” said Harris. “There are a lot of talented young people in New Jersey who have achieved success, and I’m proud to have earned this award in the company of some of the best.”

Harris launched Percepture in 2004 to provide public relations services to clients globally. Together with his experts-only team of 12 communications specialists, he develops and executes PR initiatives that increase sales. His efforts have directly led to clients increasing revenue by 800% annually, opening up national retail accounts, winning multi-million dollar contracts, and attracting VC funding.

Harris is a Board Member of the international Business Marketing Association (BMA), a repeat lecturer on strategic public relations at New York University and NYU’s Stern School of Business, and a member of the NJ Technology Council and the American Chemical Society. He is also involved in several local charities, including Meals on Wheels.

NJBIZ honored this year’s Forty Under 40 winners during an awards ceremony on September 22 at the Somerset Park in Somerset, New Jersey. Winners will also be highlighted in a special supplement to NJBIZ that is distributed with the September 29 issue of the publication.

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