Michael P. Libbie

Banking on Social Media

Today I had the opportunity to do a seminar for the Iowa State Savings Bank headquartered in Creston, Iowa.  What a great time!  Because it's Columbus Day the bank employees are off...but they were really "on" as the bank uses days such as this for in-service training and meetings.  The bank is examining the use of social media to reach out to existing and future customers...and what a great idea.

They brought me in to help explain to them the good news and the things they will have to consider before launch. 

We also talked about what the banking industry, as a whole, might consider when it comes to enhancing the conversation...  For example how about a BLOG that would:

• Share the rich history of their bank and banking in Iowa;
• Boost their community involvement image;
• Talk about business partners and their success;
• Inform everyone about what's great in Creston, Corning or Lenox;
• Tell others about the ISSB Travel Club and their trips....

It's all about building voice and relationships.  After all, is't that what banking is all about?

Thank you to Karla Hynes from the Iowa State Savings Bank for the invite!  Now, let's do a program for your commercial customers?  Oh, welcome Karla to Twitter? 

We'll be back with our radio show tomorrow afternoon.

Michael P. Libbie - Follow us on Twitter @MichaelLibbie or @InsightADV

 

Social Media & Business

Today I had the privilege of speaking to 25+ people at the Urbandale, Iowa Chamber.  Mostly small business people who were hungry to come and learn about how using social media can impact their business.  We covered Facebook, Blogging, LinkedIn and Twitter.  The goal was to give them a taste of the possibilities and have them consider using SM as another tool in their "marketing war chest".

Did it work?

I hope so.  They were engaging, interested and asked good questions.  Now time will tell if they'll pick up the challenge and rather than talk to their customers and clients...they actually communicate with them.

If your group or organization would like to get busy with social media I can offer you a seminar of introduction or a much deeper program where we focus on exactly how your business can benefit and show you the steps.

Michael Libbie - Professional Speaker and Advertising Agency Owner...thanks for reading. You can follow me on Twitter:  @MichaelLibbie, @InsightADV and learn more about what I can do and how we can benefit your next meeting:  www.InsightCubed.com 

 

Thanks For the Nice Words

Last month I had the opportunity to head to Western Iowa, Red Oak...and do a program for about 80 individuals from the Western Iowa Tourism Region on Social Media.

We talked about blogging, Facebook, Twitter and a host of other ways to connect with consumers or customers or clients.  Had a nice time...

And, they recently sent me my evaluation.  YIKES!  When doing public speaking, and I've been doing this for a very long time, you never know how well you connect with the people who are listening.  "Gosh, I hope they learned something!", "Gee, I hope they enjoyed what I had to say and got the meaning."  "Hope they went away from the meeting with tools they can use."  All of those things roll through a speakers mind.

Sometimes the group sends the speaker an evaluation so we can see the impact we've had on those willing to fill out the forms.  It looks like I did pretty well and I am grateful for the nice words.  If you want to see for yourself...here is the report.

Next up?  This Tuesday afternoon I'll be doing a class for the Urbandale Chamber and discussing how social media can be used in marketing nearly any business.  Should be fun!

Thanks for the opportunity!

Michael P. Libbie - You can follow us on Facebook and become a fan of Insight Advertising, Marketing & Communications.  You'll find that we post about all kinds of tips for advertising and marketing. You can also follow us on Twitter @MichaelLibbie or @InsightADV. 

Thanks again...for reading and for checking us out. - Michael 

"This Better Be Good!"

I was getting ready to do my seminar on Social Media in Red Oak, Iowa when this women walked up, motioned to me that she wanted to say something.  Charlotte, from Correctionville, Iowa (pictured) pointed her finger at me and said, "Listen, I'm making a 300 mile round trip to hear this speech.  This better be good or you'll be hearing from me!"

Yikes!  The pressure was on! 

Not many speakers get that kind of warning...but we all know that if we don't connect with our audience everybody loses.  In this case, Charlotte was going to lose a large part of her day.  Me?  I was gong to lose eighty new friends from the Western Iowa Tourism Region. 

That was not going to happen...not today.

So, thank you for reminding me of the importance of thinking about our audience FIRST...you helped make it a great morning!

Oh, and she did come up to me following the 2 hour seminar and said, "A Plus, Michael.  No!  Better than that...triple A Plus!"

Thanks Charlotte...and thank you Western Iowa Tourism Region for the opportunity.

Let me come and make it happen for your group...  I've got some open dates and we're ready to head to your event!

 

Social Media - Twitter 101

I get asked about social media daily.  Maybe it's because we're using it successfully?  Maybe because I keep up four different Twitter Identities?  Maybe because I'm a good teacher?  Well...

Let's find out.  Here is a sample of my presentation on Social Media - Twitter 101.  Enjoy!

Do your research before engaging potential customers.

It might be a good idea to get the "lay of the land" before you start stroking your keyboard.  Let’s talk about how…

 Determine your goals...

What is it that you want to do with social media like Twitter?  Some folks use it to do research into brands or potential products.  Some use it to support existing customers.  Some simply want to sell.  What are your goals and how to figure them out.

Should you be a "Brand" or a "Person"?

Careful here.  We believe that people still buy and communicate with people.  Rare is the company that can stand alone on their branded logo as the background photo and bio photo.  What should you do?  Let’s’ find out together.

Build Twitter Street Creds...

It's not about the number of followers, tweets or re-tweets it's about what you have to share.  Remember, this is a CONVERSATION.  Be interesting and trusted and the rest will happen.

Track the Conversation...

Should you invest in a paid tracking service to better track the conversations. 

Be Less Structured...

We've all seen it.  Somebody gets on Twitter and bangs out ten or twelve messages and then "goes away" for the day.  OR...all the messages are "selling something".  What is the 80/20 Rule and how to implement it.

 Listen & Observe - Then Engage

If you just charge in and expect the Twitter Community to embrace you...  Well, you're in for a surprise.  Once again, this is a conversation.  Let’s date a couple of times at least…

Be Real and Believable

Do it yourself or pay somebody to be your Tweep?  Serious considerations.

Track & Measure and Re-Tool...

If you know what your goals are (see above) it should be pretty easy to be able to track and measure your progress.  Are you hitting your goals?  Reality check…

Engage Now...

Some people go through the planning stage FOREVER  It's better, we believe, to be in the parade than standing on the sidelines and watching it go by.

Thanks for reading.  If you want to keep up with me it's @MichaelLibbie and to see some of the work we do and listen in to our radio shows head to our website, www.InsightCubed.com have a look around.  And, yes...I've got some open dates to come and speak to your group!  Let's do this thing....

Thanks for coming by!

Michael

Let's Talk Marketing - Social That Is...

Over the past few months the number of professional social marketers has increased like crazy.  Ya can't swing a dead cat and not hit a "social media expert".  Seems like everybody with a blog or a Twitter account is now making noise of "the big thing".  And, if you're not in it...you are a loser.

Bunk...

The plain truth is that social marketing isn't for everybody.  It's not and if you fall for this stuff...well I've got this bridge in Rhode Island...

Here is the real story:

Social marketing will not take the place of relationship marketing.  Why (are you ready?)  Social marketing is RELATIONSHIP MARKETING.  The new technology now makes creating a relationship easier but it does not "replace" it.  What the technology does is allow you to get to know somebody better.  It is the "cocktail chatter" of the 1950's...Only you're going to miss the buzz, hangover and morning regrets. Well maybe.

The point is people still do business with people.  What blogs, Twitter and Facebook do is allow you to expand your reach, your influence and do it on a time line that meets with the demands of your target audience.  However, you've still got to have that personal interaction.  Or so we think.

And, traditional marketing methods still work.  If you are directed and on message and use the right medium.

Yikes...

Thanks for reading...got an open date?  Want to talk Rural Lifestyle, Marketing/Advertising or even the Top Ten Ways to Decrease your Marketing Budget and Still Win?  I've got the time...love to speak to your group and open some eyes.

Michael P. Libbie - Solid, Successful and a Postive Speaker for your next event..if you want follow me on Twitter - @MichaelLibbie

 

 

Thank you!

Just a "shout out" and a "thank you" to the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Impromptu Studio for the two opportunities this week to speak to very different groups.

The Iowa Department of Agriculture played host to plant professionals from other states as well as individuals from the USDA.  They were in town for several days working on regulations regarding the import and shipping of plants.  Many had never been to Iowa and had the impression that Iowa was all corn and soybeans.  Not so...and my address centered on the diverse nature of Iowa crops and livestock and the rural lifestyle so many enjoy.  It was a great time and an honor to be with Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey, Deputy Secretary Kary Claghorn, Dr. Paul Lasley of Iowa State University, Robin Prusiner the State Entomologist and Plant Science Bureau Chief of the Department of Agriculture and about 100 new friends from across the country!  Thank you!

At the end of the week I was pleased to present to a class at Impromptu Studio.  The topic was "Bootstrap Marketing"and the goal was to give the class common sense ideas that return value in business startup marketing.  Our thanks to Daniel Shipton, Nathan Wright and Andy Brudtkuhl for the invite.  It was great! (Here I am with Gabriel Glynn.  Hey at least HE looks interested!)

There you have it.  From small class sessions on marketing and public relations to large events...call me.  I can bring your group motivation in sales, rural lifestyle, marketing, advertising and social media.  I'd love to come and work for you!

Michael P. Libbie -

 

If You're Not In...You're Out!

“I can speak from over 15 years of directly experiencing Michael Libbie as a speaker. Michael is articulate, motivating, and knowledgeable. He engages the audience and brings the topic to life and we walk away with a better understanding. 

Sam Soifer - Owner McDonald's Restaurants/Iowa

 

The past several months have tested the resolve of many business leaders.  Not long ago I had a conversation with another "advertising guy" from a newspaper who told me about how this perspective customer continued to reject advertising, in general.  "He never ran an ad in my paper until his "going out of business sale".

 

That's part of what I talk about in my keynote focused on "Advertising In A Recession".  In it I lay out historical examples about tough times and how increasing advertising during a recession (or even a depression) helps secure market position.

 

It doesn't matter if you are selling advertising or an association of members who buy advertising...this energetic, thought provoking presentation drives home the message that you've got to stay in the game...or you're out...perhaps forever.

 

If you've got an upcoming event scheduled...I may have that date open.  I'd be honored to come and work for you.

 

Michael P. Libbie

 

 

Connecting With The Audience...

This week, within 24 hours, I attended two fund raising meetings.  Not as the speaker, but as a  volunteer fund raiser.  (That means not only do I go out seeking funds, I also get to give.  Don't you love the name tags?)

One of the presentations was painful.  Forty people in a room and the speaker had a flip chart.  I'm not kidding.  A flip chart (something most of us have not seen outside of small committee meetings for what, ten years?)  The speaker was billed as a successful fund development officer who had started her own consulting firm for non-profit fund development.  And both of those statements are true.  However, she knew little about her target audience, could not "speak the language" of the group and simply failed to motivate.  The meeting went on for nearly two hours.

The other was also a two hour meeting done by the Urbandale (Iowa) Chamber of Commerce.  Here the speaker used multi media, knew the topic and had fun with the group.

From my chair it was clear who made the larger impact.  The first meeting was somber, dreadful and just weird.   What is scary about this is the leadership of the first meeting had choices of who to present and how.  They too failed, but strangely, in the end,  "thought" the meeting was a success.  Motivated to raise $850,000?  Not me.  In reverse, The Chamber meeting was lively, entertaining and informational.  Motivated to help raise $250,000.  Yep, I'm there.

When looking for a speaker it's critical that he/she knows not only the topic but the tie in to your group or organization.  They must "speak the language" of the group and make sure they are using the technology of the day.  And in the end, give you more than rational and (in this case) a pledge card. 

Michael P. Libbie - Professional Speaking and Results

Taking "Advertising In A Recession" On The Air

Following several meetings I attended on behalf of our advertising agency (Insight Advertising, Marketing & Communications) last week I've been on a mission to speak to as many people as possible about what they should be doing in this economy when it comes to marketing and advertising.  Sadly most are going to cut their marketing dollars.  And, that, my friends is the worst thing they can do.

Today we'll take that message "on air" here in Central Iowa on 98.3 WOW-FM.  You can also listen live by heading to this link. I'll be a guest on "BRADSHAW" starting at 2:00PM Central Time.  We'll be talking about:

• Historical proof that advertising in tough times works;
• A discussion about what you should be doing on the Internet;
• How customer communication results in increased sales;
• How to save money but advertise and market MORE.

Hope you'll come by for a listen.  You can think of it as an introduction to inviting me to come to your next event to do the seminar for your group.

Michael Libbie - Powerful Public Speaking