Want to know how giants like Apple, TOMS Shoes and successful authors transform a typical product into a 'Wow' experience? Are you interested in learning how to build a loyal tribe around your product or passion, just like Gary Vaynerchuk and Seth Godin? Ever wondered how social media can be effectively used to expand your reach and influence, like Twitter does for many? Dive in to discover these strategies and more that can take your venture to the next level.

Platform: Get Noticed in a Noisy World

In the world of success, two key elements matter: a compelling product and a significant platform. Marketing genius David Ogilvy once said, “Great marketing only makes a bad product fail faster.” This couldn't be truer; the essence of success lies in creating an outstanding product that people love and recommend.

Take Apple’s iPhone launch, for example. Steve Jobs introduced it with such passion and familiarity, creating a product he himself would use. Apple didn’t just add features but reinvented the phone entirely, exceeding user expectations. This resulted in unparalleled excitement and a surge in Apple's stock.

Similarly, Blake Mycoskie of TOMS Shoes created a wow product with a mission—donating a pair of shoes to a child in need for every pair sold. This not only provided essential footwear but also brought joy and opportunity to countless children.

Wow experiences are marked by elements like surprise, anticipation, resonance, transcendence, clarity, presence, universality, evangelism, longevity, and privilege. For instance, a trip to Scotland or seeing Victoria Falls can evoke deep emotional connections and lasting memories.

However, not every experience aims for a wow. Consider the disastrous preview of the Broadway musical, Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark. Despite high expectations, it failed to deliver, highlighting that meeting or exceeding customer expectations is crucial.

To create a wow, you must exceed current customer expectations. This could be transforming an ordinary experience, like a lobby visit, into something extraordinary. Clean environments, warm greetings, and thoughtful details can turn a mundane experience into a memorable one.

Ultimately, the challenge is execution. Recognizing the difference between wow and not-wow sets the stage for greatness. Aim high, deliver excellence, and the platform for your success will build itself.

Can You Achieve Wow Success Like Steve Jobs?

Creating "wow" experiences in projects requires overcoming obstacles like time constraints, limited resources, and lack of experience. The biggest hurdle, however, is fear—fear of failure, of losing a job, or of being judged. Courage is essential to push past these fears and create something truly exceptional.

Five years into their marriage, the author and his wife, Gail, went to Maui for their anniversary. They discovered snorkeling and ventured out alone, only to be caught in a riptide, drifting a mile out to sea. They paddled back to shore for over an hour, exhausted but safe. This experience mirrors the drift in projects where initial excitement gets diluted by practical constraints, leading to mediocrity.

To avoid this drift and achieve "wow," you need courage. Here are six ways to muster it:

1. Take a stand for greatness: Commit fully to your vision.

2. Connect with the original vision: Stay focused on what you’re trying to create.

3. Remind yourself what’s at stake: Understand the importance of your project.

4. Listen to your heart: Trust your intuition.

5. Speak up: Defend your ideas vocally.

6. Be stubborn: Demand excellence even when it’s tough.

A great product also needs a memorable name. A compelling title is crucial—it’s your number one marketing tool. Titles should promise something, create intrigue, identify a need, or state the content clearly.

Finally, packaging matters. It’s the first impression and makes your product stand out in a crowded market. Invest in good design and ensure it resonates with your audience and represents your brand.

Fearless Leadership: Michael Hyatt's Blueprint to Creating 'Wow' Experiences

Yolanda Allen, a savvy marketing entrepreneur, shares a story about her daughter Makaila and her precious french fries. Makaila, protective of her culinary creations, asked her mom to watch over her fries while she stepped away. Yolanda, juggling a busy day, declined with a smirk, “I’m NOT babysitting your french fries.” 

This anecdote serves as a metaphor for personal responsibility in business. Just as Makaila must guard her fries, entrepreneurs must take charge of their ventures. Success demands knowing your product intimately, being passionate, having skin in the game, and taking action yourself.

Building a successful platform requires thinking bigger than ever before. It's about dreaming beyond limitations, clarifying your goals, and connecting deeply with your reasons for pursuing them. Write down your dreams as goals to give them life and direction, like Lou Holtz, who penned his ambitious aspirations and achieved most of them.

Crafting an elevator pitch is vital. It’s your chance to succinctly convey your product’s essence, target market, and unique value. Clarity in communication invites opportunities and partnerships; muddled messages repel them. Successful pitches open doors, whether you’re selling a product, service, or idea.

Branding tools like email addresses, signatures, business cards, websites, and social media profiles can significantly impact your image. Consistency across these platforms reinforces your brand, ensuring potential customers recognize and remember you. A well-branded presence is an essential multi-tool in launching and sustaining your platform.

Are You Ready to Launch Your Dream Business?

Building your platform as a creative can feel like an overwhelming task, but just like in auto racing, you need a pit crew to help you succeed. Sean Stephenson’s book "Get Off Your “But”" introduces this concept, and it’s a perfect metaphor for your professional career. You are the race car driver responsible for the outcome, but without a pit crew to support you, you won't get far.

So, who should be on your team? 

Administration: 
- Assistant: Consider hiring a virtual assistant to handle emails, travel arrangements, and meeting requests. 
- Bookkeeper: Free up your time from managing finances. 
- Attorney: Find a specialist in intellectual property as your success grows.

Management: 
- Self-Management: Most creatives start by managing themselves.
- Personal Management: Successful creatives eventually hire a personal manager who earns a percentage of their income.

Representation: 
- Literary Agent: Essential for authors to gain access to publishers.
- Booking Agent: Crucial for speakers and entertainers to secure events and negotiate fees.
- Publicity Agent: Helps get the word out about your product, especially during launches.

Content Creation: 
- Coaches: Hire experts for writing, speaking, or voice coaching to improve your skills.
- Collaborators: Editors, ghostwriters, producers, and video editors can polish your content.

Publishers: 
- They help get your product to market, whether it's a book, video, or other media.

Why assemble a pit crew? It provides access to contacts you don’t have, leverage to maximize your impact, and the freedom to focus on what you do best.

Endorsements: 
Securing raving endorsements is crucial. They offer third-party validation and social authority, making it easier for potential customers to say yes. There are two types: Celebrity Endorsements from well-known experts and User Reviews from everyday people. 

To get endorsements:
1. Create a great product.
2. Make a prospect list.
3. Leverage one endorsement for more.
4. Ask for the endorsement directly.
5. Provide guidance, samples, and a deadline.

Online Media Kit: 
This essential tool should include:

1. Headline and Navigation.
2. Contact Information.
3. Product Information – sales copy, specs, formats, photos, trailers, bios, and endorsements.
4. Promotion Information – live and media appearances.
5. Interviewer Resources – bio talking points, product summary, interview topics, and sample questions.
6. Fan Resources – samples, Twitter post samples, banner ads, incentives, wallpaper, and merchandise.
7. Media Reactions – include reviews and endorsements.

Creating a comprehensive media kit and building a strong team will lay the foundation for your platform, allowing you to focus on what you do best and reach your goals effectively.

Sean Stephenson's Pit Crew Strategy: Turbocharge Your Creative Career

Building a solid online platform is like constructing a sturdy home base – it involves seamlessly integrating various elements like Facebook, Twitter, your blog, and your website. A good social media strategy has three components: a home base (your own digital property), embassies (profiles on platforms you don't own), and outposts (places where you listen to conversations about your brand).

Word of mouth is the most effective way to sell anything, and the internet is a cost-effective way to spread your message. However, simply putting up a website is not enough. You need to create compelling, frequently updated content that makes people want to return and bring friends.

Beware of self-proclaimed social media experts. Ensure that their claims are backed by numbers, they've achieved what you aspire to, and they can replicate their success. Avoid those who are "all hat and no cattle."

Starting a blog can be daunting, but it's easier than you think. Determine a theme, select a blogging service, set up your blog, and write your first post. Use an offline blogging client to make the process easier. Publicize your blog and write regularly to build readership.

Create content yourself to maintain authenticity. Blogging and tweeting require personal, authentic, and immediate communication. Readers can tell if you're not the one writing.

Use a blog post template to write faster. A template includes a lead paragraph, relevant image, personal experience, main body, and a discussion question. Keep posts short, use short paragraphs and sentences, and provide internal links.

Maintain a list of post ideas to avoid writer's block. Ideas can come from personal stories, historical events, reviews, quotes, photographs, news, conversations, step-by-step explanations, resource lists, reader questions, simplifying tasks, decision rationales, and guides.

Write posts faster by starting the night before, using downtime to think, going offline, turning on music, setting a timer, using a template, creating an outline, writing without editing, then editing and formatting, adding graphics and links, and publishing a draft.

Create video interviews to keep readers engaged. Schedule the interview, prepare questions, record using Skype, edit the video, upload to a video-sharing site, and embed a link in your blog.

Finally, don't hire a proofreader for your blog posts. It will delay publishing, and blogs are not books – you can correct errors on the fly. Focus on your writing and output, and let your readers help with proofreading.

Are You Ready to Master the Art of Blogging Like a Pro?

If you're a successful blogger, protecting your intellectual property becomes crucial. Imagine waking up to a Google Alert only to find another blogger has reposted your entire blog post without permission. It's a gut-wrenching experience, but there are ways to handle it.

First, understand copyright law: your work is protected the moment you create it. Publishing a copyright notice, creating an explicit permissions policy, and giving the benefit of the doubt to those who might simply be unaware of the law can help. If someone posts your work without permission, request its removal politely. If that fails, escalate to a demand letter or notify the infringer’s hosting service. In extreme cases, hiring an attorney might be necessary.

As a blogger, avoid common mistakes to boost traffic. Post frequently but not excessively, keep posts concise, invite engagement, and participate in conversations. Make your content accessible with catchy headlines and strong first paragraphs. Stick to your brand and focus on your readers' needs.

Creating a compelling About page is also essential. Write in a first-person, conversational style, and start with the reader's priorities. Provide a brief bio, describe your blog's theme, and invite readers to subscribe. Point them to your top posts and include a photo or video to add a personal touch.

For those looking to monetize their blog, developing effective landing pages is key. A strong headline, compelling sales copy, product photos, testimonials, and a clear call to action are essential components. Public speaking can also be a great way to grow your platform. Create a dedicated Speaking page, include a welcome video, provide a detailed biography, and showcase video clips of your presentations.

Ultimately, remember that blogging should be about clarifying your thoughts and archiving your best ideas. Don’t get too hung up on metrics. Enjoy the process of writing and sharing your insights. Your home base is the heart of your platform, and getting it right sets you up for success. Now, let’s move on to expanding your reach!

Protect Your Blog Like a Pro: Essential Tips for Success

If you're a creative looking to expand your reach, the idea of marketing might make you cringe. But here's the good news: traditional marketing is evolving into something much more engaging—tribe-building. Think of building a tribe as the new marketing, where it's all about creating a dialogue, forming relationships, and serving a shared passion rather than just pushing transactions.

Seth Godin's book "Tribes" emphasizes that a tribe only needs a shared interest and a way to communicate. Look at the success stories of Apple users, Dave Ramsey fans, Don Miller readers, and Evernote users. These groups have formed strong, enduring communities around shared passions. For creatives, building a tribe is your key to lasting success. 

How do you start? Follow these steps:

1. Discover Your Passion: Share what excites you. Gary Vaynerchuk's journey with Wine Library TV is a perfect example.
2. Volunteer to Lead: Tribes need leaders. Step up and guide the community.
3. Be Generous: Serve your community and give more than you take. It builds trust and loyalty.
4. Facilitate Communication: Ensure there are channels for tribe leaders to communicate with members and for members to connect with each other and outsiders.

Remember, it's not just about having a flashy website. The real measure of success is engagement and meaningful traffic. Tools like HubSpot’s Marketing Grader can help evaluate and improve your online presence.

If you’re a blogger, consider these strategies to boost your traffic:

1. Increase Blogging Frequency: More posts generally mean more traffic.
2. Write Shorter Posts: Concise writing often keeps readers engaged.
3. Improve SEO: Use tools like Scribe to optimize your posts.
4. Engage with Comments: Switch to a system like Disqus to make interaction easier.

Another key element is growing your subscriber list. Offer incentives, make your sign-up forms prominent, and remind readers frequently. For example, an e-book can be a great freebie to attract subscribers.

Promoting older posts can also drive traffic. Identify your most popular posts, update them, and share them periodically on social media. Use tools like SocialOomph to schedule these shares.

Lastly, writing guest posts can significantly expand your reach. It introduces you to new audiences and boosts your credibility. Follow these steps:

1. Check Guidelines: Follow the blog’s submission rules.
2. Study the Blog: Understand its voice and audience.
3. Contact the Blogger: Be concise and professional.
4. Write Quality Content: Submit your best work.
5. Follow Up: Politely check back if you don’t hear anything.
6. Engage and Promote: Share the guest post and interact with comments.
7. Repeat: Continuously seek new guest posting opportunities.

By focusing on these strategies, you can expand your reach, build a loyal following, and ensure your creative work gets the attention it deserves.

Can Seth Godin's Tribes Transform Your Creative Marketing Strategy?

In the early 2000s, marketers embraced the "free revolution," offering everything from books to cars for free. This strategy, while not sustainable long-term, has proven to be an effective marketing tool. 

For instance, the author offered a free e-book to those who subscribed to his blog, gaining 23,326 subscriptions in six months. Interweave Company excels at this, offering free quilting patterns to new members, while Thomas Nelson's BookSneeze generated thousands of reviews by giving free books to bloggers. Using free samples can drive significant engagement and sales, as seen with Marcus Buckingham's book, StandOut, which soared to number four on Amazon after a giveaway.

To leverage "free" in your marketing strategy, consider offering free samples, e-books, or special reports to attract potential customers. Engage bloggers by giving them free products in exchange for honest reviews. Provide bonuses or free memberships to those who purchase your main product, and offer free events where you can sell your products.

Maintaining reader interest is crucial. Avoid boring titles, infrequent postings, and overly long or unfocused content. Engage with your readers by participating in discussions and keeping your posts concise.

Social media metrics are essential for measuring your platform's impact. Track unique visitors, page views, growth rates, comments, subscribers, and social media followers to gauge your influence.

Twitter is a powerful tool for expanding your reach. It connects you to real-time information and helps build your personal brand. By tweeting concise, engaging messages, you can stay connected with friends, discover new ones, and drive traffic to your blog or website.

Despite common objections like time consumption or privacy concerns, Twitter offers significant benefits for personal and business growth. It's easy to get started and can transform your marketing efforts by reaching and engaging with your tribe.

Unlocking Marketing Magic: How Freebies and Twitter Transformed Engagement

Twitter offers incredible opportunities for brand building and customer engagement, all for free. It may seem like a time-consuming task, but with just thirty minutes a day, you can make a significant impact. The author tweets about thirteen times daily, each taking around thirty seconds. Add in scanning and responding to messages, and it's just over twenty minutes a day.

Why should you want more followers? More followers mean greater social authority, extended influence, and potentially more sales. However, avoid shortcuts like buying followers or using aggressive software. Instead, follow these proven strategies to grow your follower count:

1. Show your face with a good headshot.
2. Create an interesting bio.
3. Use a custom About page linked from your bio.
4. Make your Twitter presence visible everywhere.
5. Share valuable content and be generous in linking to others.
6. Post frequently but don’t flood your followers.
7. Keep your posts short enough to retweet.
8. Reply to others publicly.
9. Practice strategic following.
10. Avoid too much promotion.
11. Don’t use an auto-responder.

Growing your follower count takes time and consistent effort. Be patient and focus on quality interactions.

To avoid getting unfollowed, steer clear of these mistakes:

1. Using a difficult-to-remember user name.
2. Posting tweets longer than 120 characters.
3. Tweeting too little or too much.
4. Asking for more than you give.
5. Posting when frustrated or angry.
6. Not creating a good profile page.
7. Failing to engage in the conversation.

When promoting your product on Twitter, ensure you have a short, tweetable title, a relevant hashtag, a short user name, a landing page, and a URL shortener. Prepare tweetable messages and automate their delivery without spamming your followers.

Setting up a Facebook fan page can also expand your reach. Differentiate between friends, acquaintances, and fans to manage connections effectively. Create a fan page for broader interaction while keeping your profile for close friends and family.

Consistent branding across platforms is crucial. Include your name, logo, avatar, and a branding statement in all your social media profiles.

If you're successful online, traditional media opportunities will follow. Prepare thoroughly, understand the audience, keep your answers brief, and refer listeners back to your offering. Consider joining Toastmasters, working with an image consultant, and hiring a voice coach to enhance your presentation skills.

Can You Boost Your Brand Like a Pro on Twitter?

Blogging can be both rewarding and frustrating—especially when you're not getting the engagement you hoped for. Here are some strategies to increase blog comments and build a thriving online community.

1. End with a Question: Engaging your readers by posing an open-ended question at the end of your posts invites them to participate. For instance, Pete Wilson’s post "The Death of Gratitude" ended with a thought-provoking question, sparking a meaningful conversation.

2. Threaded Comment System: Enable a system that allows readers to reply directly to each other, fostering a conversation rather than a monologue. Disqus is a popular choice for this.

3. Prominent Comment Count: Displaying the number of comments can entice more people to join the discussion. A high count indicates a hot topic, while a low count encourages readers to be among the first to comment.

4. Ease of Commenting: Remove barriers to commenting by avoiding CAPTCHA and unnecessary approvals. Plugins like Askimet on WordPress can manage spam effectively.

5. Participate: Engage with your readers by replying to comments. This shows you value their input and keeps the conversation alive.

6. Reward Commenters: Recognize and reward your top commenters. This could be through public acknowledgment or giveaways, encouraging more participation.

7. Handle Criticism Gracefully: Allow for differing opinions without being defensive. This openness builds credibility and encourages a healthy exchange of ideas.

While it’s important to engage with your readers, responding to every comment can become overwhelming as your blog grows. Instead, think of your blog like a dinner party where the conversation among guests is just as important as your input. Aim to respond to about 20% of comments, adding value where you can.

Creating a civil and constructive environment is crucial. Use tools like Askimet to block spam, and establish a clear comments policy to set the tone for discussions. Participate actively in the conversation and be consistent in enforcing your policy.

Social media should be about building relationships, not just pushing content. Follow the 20-to-1 rule: make twenty relational deposits for every marketing withdrawal. This approach builds trust and encourages your audience to respond positively when you do make an ask.

Monitoring what people say about your brand online is essential. Use tools like Google Alerts and Twitter search to stay informed and engage in conversations about your brand. Respond quickly to criticism, admit mistakes, and aim to exceed customer expectations.

Defending your brand online involves building a strong presence, monitoring conversations, and responding promptly to issues. Empower your employees to solve problems and always strive to exceed customer expectations.

Lastly, if you want to monetize your blog, it’s possible to do so without compromising your integrity. Sell advertising, promote affiliate products you believe in, or sell your own products. This can create a sustainable income stream while adding value to your readers.

By using these strategies, you can create a more interactive and engaging blog, foster a loyal community, and even monetize your efforts effectively.

Boost Blog Engagement with Pete Wilson's Proven Tips

In the realm of success, the quality of your product and the strength of your platform are paramount. It's essential to create a product that exceeds customer expectations and delivers a memorable experience. Elevating ordinary interactions to extraordinary ones can turn mundane moments into exceptional experiences. Execution is key, and courage is necessary to overcome obstacles and create something remarkable.

Taking full responsibility for your venture is crucial because no one else will be as invested in it as you are. Thinking big and setting clear goals are fundamental steps. An effective elevator pitch and a cohesive personal branding toolkit can significantly enhance your platform.

Building a supportive team, or "pit crew," is vital for leveraging your impact and focusing on your strengths. Endorsements and a professional headshot can add credibility, while a comprehensive online media kit can streamline your promotional efforts. Maintaining an engaging and updated home base is essential for a solid online presence.

Engaging content and frequent updates are key to attracting and retaining an audience. Avoid self-proclaimed experts and focus on genuine interactions. Establish a blog rhythm, create valuable content, and use social media to amplify your reach. Protect your intellectual property and stay true to your brand.

Building a tribe around shared passions can transform your marketing efforts into meaningful relationships. Tools like Twitter and Facebook fan pages can extend your reach. Preparing for traditional media opportunities and refining your presentation skills can further enhance your platform.

Encouraging engagement on your blog is vital. Ending posts with questions, enabling threaded comments, and participating in discussions can foster a thriving community. Handling criticism gracefully and maintaining a civil environment are important for constructive conversations.

Finally, monitoring your brand online and responding to feedback promptly can protect and enhance your reputation. Monetizing your blog through advertising, affiliate products, or selling your own creations can create a sustainable income stream while adding value to your readers. By focusing on these strategies, you can build a loyal following and expand your reach effectively.

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