The view from the coffee shop in Sturgeon Bay, WI where I wrote this post...
I had one of those incredible first meetings this morning — freelancers, salespeople, you know the one — the meeting when you know that your product offering is EXACTLY what is missing from the prospective client’s life. As a follow up, she asked me to summarize for her why I felt so strongly that I am what is missing in her life [her work life, anyway] and I’m letting you in on the response…
Those of you who have followed me for some time know that one of my blogging strategies is to create posts from the good questions I get and I thought her question was the perfect opportunity to do just that. You see, if answered her question via email I would only benefit her. However, if I answer in the form of a post, I will benefit both her AND you — the person who found me via Google [or Bing, or Facebook, etc.]. So without further eloquence, I’ll get to the heart of the matter…
Jackie, I hope you don’t mind this approach — I find that blog posts are like a ‘to whom it may concern’ email to the world, and my best ones are written with a specific person in mind. If y0u want to know more about me, you can read the about page on my main blog and on this one as well. If I’ve done my homework well, they should give you a pretty good picture of who I am. Just in case, though, I’ll net it out for you; I believe my mission and ministry in life is to help turn great thinkers into great thought leaders through a simple, cost-effective toolkit combined with a system of easily repeatable behaviors I call the ‘e1evation workflow‘ [a kind of 'lather, rinse, repeat' cycle for inbound or internet marketing].
There is a specific set of tools I advocate which have been demonstrated over time to yield traffic if done consistently in the manner I prescribe. My own website is ranked approximately 50,000 out of all websites in the US and approximately 200,000 in the world. My ranking is a little low lately because I’ve slacked off on my own personal business blogging due to some big client project that have taken up a lot of creative bandwidth but my rank has been as high as 20,000 at different times. Your mileage may vary, but I have maintained these numbers over the better part of 3 years by doing what I would teach you to do as a client…
I advocate what I call ‘good, fast and cheap’ tools like Gmail or Google Apps, Google Reader, WordPress, Google+, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and MailChimp combined with free software like Internet Explorer, Firefox or Chrome combined with Windows Live Writer, ScribeFire or Posterous, maybe a little Storify and a lot of Shareaholic thrown in for good measure. You’re already using many of these tools but like many of my clients, it appears to me you are using them in a sub-optimal manner. I hope you don’t take offense at that — it’s just how things appeared in our short call together. Even if you have the right ingredients, it’s the recipe and knowing what to do with the ingredients that makes the memorable meal. I focus on doing the cooking so that you and focus on thinking great thoughts and doing instinctively what you do best…
I call my business e1evation because the domain elevation is owned by Bono of U2, but I really wanted the name because my goal is to elevate you and all my clients to the next level whatever that next level means to them [the fact I really love that U2 song was a plus]. To the extent that you share your business objectives with me to that extent I can draw from over 30 years experience in marketing, sales and technology to deliver the simplest and most cost-effective workflow I can imagine. One that will be “as simple as possible, but no simpler” as Einstein said. I speak fluent Google, WordPress, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and other technologies on Windows, Mac and Linux and I can teach you in the same way I teach the students in my social media certification course at Northeast Wisconsin Technical College or I can just do all the ‘electrical work’ behind the scenes and teach you how to flip the switch. Your call, but I hope you do. Call that is…
Questions? Feedback?
Related articles
- Demand Creation vs. Cold Calling (hubspot.com)
- The Secret to Profitable Client Relationships (raintoday.com)
- Top Traits of Successful Salespeople (raintoday.com)
Finding Todd was like when a blind person finds their seeing-eye dog (no offence Todd). I felt lost and confused and he was the friendly, safe go-to guy to guide me around the maze. I call him the IT God in my biz development seminars when I present my list of valuable resources!
I have colleagues asking for introductions to my “e-mail whisperer” because that’s the first thing Todd helped me with – and to say it changed my life isn’t an ounce of drama. I am a creative person. I’m an independent spirit. I don’t like “processes” or “workflows” – especially not other people’s. But Todd showed me how to get my life back. I was completely overwhelmed by e-mail. And within one session, he changed that. And I got a system in place that doesn’t feel like a system and it’s been so perfect that I’ve just naturally kept it up. I now have what I’m calling “a peaceful inbox” and that means i have time to create thoughtful content. I have time to do the actual work of my business, the stuff I love. And I have time to sit on my couch and watch tv with my husband if that’s what I feel like doing, because – like magic – Todd has given me back at least three hours a day. And, probably more.
I can’t say enough good things about him, and am looking forward to my next training sessions. Because, in addition to being smart, he’s a nice guy.
I’ve only known Todd about a month, but already he has saved me from feeling overwhelmed by my out-of-control inbox. I went to an inbox of about 5000 emails waiting to be addressed to an average of 25. The reduction in overwhelm has saved me precious time and energy. I have prescribed Todd to a number of my friends who experience the same affliction.
Todd’s also shared some other techie tools with me that I’m excited to implement and experiment with. I can see how his elevation system can efficiently and effectively drive traffic and help spread great content.
I have now affectionately dubbed him ‘my techie guy’ because he takes care of the important technological aspects of my business so I can focus on thinking, connecting, and creating.
Give him a try. He might just change the way you do business. In a really good way.
Smiles,
gem
Thank you, Chala! No offence taken…
Thank you so much, Carrie! I can never thank you enough for sharing your experience in your newsletter. Thanks to you, I’m huge in Canada! So glad you’re back in North America…
Thanks so much, dear, for your kind words. I love being your ‘techie guy’ and I look forward to doing much of this work I describe in the post with your great content…
Todd, just wanted to tell you that you are my tech guru and mentor when it comes to helping me with my web site.
As you know, I was not tech savy. When I started my blog Wis. U. P. North this past March, I knew I had an idea with potential. I thought I could do it myself but struggled and realized I was going nowhere.
I knew the work you have done was exceptional and decided I needed professional help to take me to the next step in my future.
You switched me to Word Press, gave me tools like Scribe Fire, Google Chrome, Google Reader and Zemanta. What would take long painful hours on the internet, you helped me cut my time posting down to minutes.
From having a me too web site, I began to curate my information to a more professional look which you stressed for me to be sucessful.
I began to see my web site grow in readership and web site ranking. You said if I worked my site, I would see results. Boy, did I see results.
One of the greatest tools you helped me with was Zemanta. What a easy way to link information and even add images to my posts.
I think you understood that I would be your most challenging client. You can lead a horse to water but you can’t make him drink. Your were right in everything you showed me.
I now have a better web site that is growing with each passing day. It is also great to have your support when I need it. My problems become opportunities because of the great help and follow up from you.
I just want to thank you for your help and recomend you to everyone I talk to.
Keep up the GREAT work.
It sounds too good to be true to find someone of Todd’s capabilities — someone who gets the online world, and how it ties to real results, and then can actually make real shit happen…
But Geez, I can’t imagine where I’d be if I hadn’t become a client. Just check out my site, and the web traffic (and know that the results in the background actually match the outward abilities.
Dude! You can comment on my site anytime! Thanks…
Thank you, Nilofer!!! Clients like you make it easy…
Wow….I’m inspired and elated to see that email management can truly be a reality!
Looking forward to connecting with you again Todd – and thank you so much for your time this morning.
Bliss,
Jackie (yup, the Jackie in the blog)
PS – I adore Carrie Klassen – her team designed my website header!
I adore Carrie as well and I should have known that it was her fine work at the top of your blog. From this point forward, any client that wants a banner header is going to be referred to Carrie as graphic design is the one thing I can’t — and most like will never — do. I look forward to working with you, Jackie, and I’m glad you don’t mind the unconventional response to your question…
I was recently introduced to Todd after publishing a book and starting my own non-profit. We were in desperate need of a website that would drive traffic so that people could hear about the book and read other content that I will be blogging about. I am so inept when it comes to the technological issues, so meeting Todd was like a dream come true for me! He has wowed me in both the interactive meetings we have had together so far!
Bottom line: I just want to write and share my story and ministry. It’s nice to know I can confidently leave the rest in Todd’s capable hands!!
Shane S.
I have known Todd for a lifetime, back to Apple days…or was it “daze?” In addition to being fun, smart, a good travel companion to foreign countries (especially GERMANY), and a WWII history buff, Todd is my PDA (personal digital assistant-the 2 legged variety). But lately, Todd is my social media technologist. While I can sell the benefits of heightened customer engagement, design strategies and deploy an army of content creators, Todd is the architect that makes it all “happen” with tools and tactics that WORK. The classic “smarter, not harder” approach, the elevation workflow just WORKS in a natural seamless process that is logical and simple to implement. If you think he does wonders with emails and inboxes, try him for your social media deployment. There is no need to fear social, not with Todd guiding the way.
Thanks so much, Shane!
Wow, Sue! We’ve been working together for over 15 years. It means a lot to me that you still have good things to say…
:-D
The title of this post, appropriately enough, is “How can I help?”. Whether it’s an organization, a service, a product or even a person, the brands that simply help people in a user friendly and efficient manner are the ones who will thrive in this crazy connected world.
Lucky for me, Todd is one of them.
Great insights. Compelling approach. Easy process. Proactive suggestions. Emergency help. Witty catch phrases. Todd truly is the thinker behind thought leaders. He’s not just someone I work with, he’s a critical partner for my business.
Thanks to Nilofer Merchant for the introduction.
rt