Insight on Business – Sunday Morning Coffee

OK, it’s true..  Insight on Business with Michael Libbie is NOT on the air Sundays.  However, we can’t stay away…and a quick

 reminder that we’ll be back on Monday at 12:30PM Central with our Monday edition of Insight on Business.  We call that “Metro Monday” and our guest is Angela Clark.  

In the meantime…how about a sip of Sunday Morning Coffee?  What’s that?  A couple of stories, a little gossip and some insight.  It’s a great way to start…Sunday Morning!   Thanks for coming by…and we’ll catch you tomorrow.

Sunday Morning Coffee – Insight on Business

Nope, we can’t stay away…even on Sunday!  Insight on Business returns tomorrow afternoon for 90 minutes of talk about

 advertising, marketing and consumer trends.  Our guest, by the way, is Tyler Osby.  Hope you can join us.

In the meantime Sunday Morning Coffee is served.  It’s a collection of topics from KCCI to Mayor Frank Cownie.  The Iowa Newspaper Association to that four letter word:  SN-W!   I’m asking about non-profit fund raising and wondering what business needs to do with social media.  All that and more in Sunday Morning Coffee.  Enjoy

Ahhhhh What was that?

Insight on Business isn’t on the air Fridays….however we can’t stay away!  Today I went to a social media seminar that was attended by about 70 other folks.  I was a bit underwhelmed…  Here is the story.  Have a great weekend and hope to catch you on Monday!

This morning I attended a meeting sponsored by the Des Moines Business Record and Hanser & Associates.  I wasn’t alone.  There were about 70 people in the room who had come to review the social media survey conducted by the DMBR and Hanser.  Here is that survey story.

I want to be kind…my goal here is not to bust the chops of anybody.  I do think that the majority of business people who came were expecting more meat rather than what they got.  While the participants on the panel were clear to the fact that they were “learning” about social media I was struck at the overall lack of understanding.  Now, to be fair, that may not have been the intent of the meeting.  But, I’ll bet many in the audience thought they might be able to get a nugget or two on “how to”.

They didn’t until panel member Christian Renaud from Palisadestarted to speak.  He spoke of the difference between a business blog, Twitter and Facebook.  He told the people  to understand that Social Media is not only an advertising vehicle it is a way to engage in conversation with consumers and a way to learn more about what in the world is going on “out there”.

Clearly Christian “gets it” and both Josh Fleming from Lessing-Flynn and I gave him major props.   He was clearly the most helpful on the panel.

One other very clear thing came to me and several other professional media people in the room.  Business continues to be very fearful of Social Media.  They want to put an ROI on it, want to control it, want to keep the conversation going in one direction…out.

However, that’s not what SM is about…and it was also clear there is enough business to go around for all of us.  This is a much, much steeper learning curve for business to business and business to consumer groups than what I had already known…

Have a look at the stats…you’ll see what I mean.  And, here comes the ad, if we can help…for crying out loud call…or write or…Tweet?  Thanks for reading.

Sunday Morning Coffee – January 31

Insight on Business isn’t on the air Sundays…but we can’t stay away from Des Moines Local…LIVE!   Each Sunday Morning we bring

 you a bunch of news and information that may not be business, may not be politics but may be fun to read.  We’ve got Gov. Culver and Twitter, RAGBRAI info, DSM Police, John Deere, a story on propane…the works.  We call it Sunday Morning Coffee and we’d like for you to come by for a sip?

Here is the link to SUNDAY MORNING COFFEE

Insight on Business will be back tomorrow at 12:30PM Central.  It’s “Metro Monday” and our guest is Suzanne Hull of Unemployed in Des Moines.  Catch you then?

“My Clients Are Dying…”

Insight on Business with Michael Libbie isn’t on the air Fridays.  But…we didn’t want you to have withdrawls.  Hey, that’s important.  We’ll return on Monday – It’s “Metro Monday” with Suzanne Hull and Unemployed in Des Moines as well as loads of local stories about the “Golden Circle”.  You know the greatest city in the greatest state in the nation – Des Moines, Iowa.  Insight on Business is part of Des Moines Local…LIVE and is a production of our advertising agency, Insight Advertising, Marketing & Communications.  Oh…here is a bit from today about…GULP – Dying Clients and what they..AND YOU…need to do NOW.

Sobering thought huh?  That’s exactly what I was told earlier this week by a well established firm in Des Moines.  “Michael, over the past six months, seven of our clients passed away.  We’ve got to find a way to replace them.”

At least he recognizes the issue.  But is it too late?

They have a couple of options…and if this problem matches your company, so do you. 

He can choose to spring into action and embrace a number of media opportunities to get his business recognized among a younger demographic or he can rearrange deck chairs on the Titanic. 

One decision will cost him time and money…the other will simply cost him his business.

It’s been our experience that panic will set in and for a brief moment they (and perhaps you) will start to consider ways to boost your market share.  But, in the end, the tough decision to move forward with new ideas and new technology will be replaced by a lack of understanding how, a lack of funds and a lack of time.

We hope not.

There is a message here for your business:  You can no longer count on the “old ways” to bring  you clients and customers.  I’m not saying abandon all traditional marketing methods but add to them or at least start to understand your options.  And, if you’ve gone for years without investing in marketing and advertising and think you can actually grow by keeping your head in the sand.  We’ve got the sympathy cards ready.

 

Metro Monday – Insight on Business – January 25

Join us today for Metro Monday where we focus on local stories…and a couple from other places.  Insight on Business is part of Des Moines Local…LIVE and you can hear us today at 12:30 PM Central.  Our guest today is Mike Lynch from Manpower.  We’ll be

 talking about their recent survey of jobs and what’s hot…and what is not.  Mike Lynch today. 

In other stories we’re doing a segment on customer service…the good…and the not so good.  And tell you what makes the difference.  Finally we’ll spend some time on the Iowa Caucus…did it work out?  Our thoughts today with Insight on Business.  Join us at 12:30?

Insight on Business – Just Another Metro Monday

Hi gang…and welcome.  Today is Monday…that means it’s METRO MONDAY!   We spend the day on local news and information.  Today we talk about the Urbandale Chamber, (good stuff and something else)  Look, if you are doing a roll out…you’ll find a nugget here.   Also we take on Hubbell Reality and what the heck they might think they are doing downtown Des Moines.  Let’s see…anyway loads of stuff here is the show…enjoy!

Sunday Morning Coffee

Morning… Insight on Business isn’t on the air Sunday mornings…but that’s can’t keep us away.  Here is our regular Sunday feature:  Sunday Morning Coffee.  It’s about a host of items that have crossed my desk or stuff coming up in the next week.  Grab a chair…a cup of “Joe” and have a sip:

Morning…or if you are a late riser, “What the heck have you been doing?  We’ve had the pot on for hours!  Let’s chat and look back and forward with our Sunday Morning Coffee.

Haiti- What a heart rending thing and who would have thought an event of such human suffering could bring such a shock wave of negative political and religious talk.  But, that is not the real story. Millions of folks…folks like you and me…from around the globe have discounted the wackos and given millions of dollars in relief funding.  In spite of…or because of the “Side Show“.  Here is a listing of relief organizations deemed the highest rated by Charity Navigator, an independent non-profit organization that lists charity groups based on effectiveness and financial strength.  

For those of you in the world of agriculture Ag-Connect is history.  The new farm equipment show put together by the Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM), ended on Friday night.  The short story is that nearly 8,000 people attended the three day event (The World Ag Expo in Tulare averages 100,000 attendees) and according to this interview with Charlie O’Brian of AEM the show can be described in one word, “quality”.  We’ll have more later this week over at Rural Life Radio…after we talk directly to attendees.

BREAK:  Does anybody really care about Jay Leno or Conan O’Brian or NBC?  Just wondering.

Here in Des Moines the 18th Annual No-Till Ag Conference ended.  Seminar after seminar, well into the night, discussing sustainable agriculture.  And…get this, farmers paid $249 per person for the opportunity to attend the three day meeting.  And no, that doesn’t include lodging.  Attendance?  Up. (For those of you “selling something” there is a message here.)

Have you “Mingled” lately?  Here is the piece I did last week.  Legs?  We think so…but now the real work starts:  Keeping the BUZZ going.

Staying a bit local…on Wednesday I’ll be presenting at a meeting of the Urbandale Chamber at the Comfort Suites at Living History Farms.  We’ll be talking about small business and marketing.  Kicks off at 11:30AM with registration.

I had one of the nicest things said about me this week by Mike Winter of Worthington Ag Parts.  He was in Nashville at the NTPDA National Conference and Tweeted:  “Second lousy speaker in a row.  Where is Michael Libbie when we really need him?”  Thanks Mike.

Are you keeping things…simple?  Or are you confusing the hell out of your customer?

Looking for a job?  I’ve had my head in the sand on this one.  Last week I attended an event called “Net 2 Work“.  Here is an insightful post from my friend Suzanne Hull from Unemployed in Des Moines.  (Scroll down on her post…it’s there.)  It’s a networking group that meets twice a month to allow folks that are unemployed or under-employed the opportunity to learn, from professionals and others, all sorts of ideas when it comes to getting hired.  There were 56 folks at this meeting.  Here is what I learned:  Technology IS NOT your friend if you are looking for a job.  The majority of HR functions regarding on-line applications are handled by a computer who spits out rejection letters based on key-words in your application!  I honestly had NO idea.  I heard from several people how they went around the system to get hired.  Even if you get a rejection letter…call back.  Something really silly may have triggered the rejection.  In the name of everything holy…this is insane.  And, HR people, don’t tell me you “do not have the time” to review  applications.  That, in case you forgot…is your job.

That’s it…   A  quick reminder of our daily (Monday – Thursday) business radio/tv show, Insight on Business.  We talk about advertising, marketing, consumer trends and best business practices for 90 minutes starting at 12:30PM Central.  It’s for folks who enjoy thinking…about business. 

Thanks for coming by for a sip of Sunday Morning Coffee.  You can keep up with us on Twitter:  @MichaelLibbie (business and personal) or @InsightADV (Business baby…business) or @RuralLifeRadio (our love for everything rural).  Have a great Sunday!

Timothy L. Johnson – Insight on Business – January 14, 2010

Hi and welcome to Insight on Business with your humble host, me, Michael Libbie.  We had a great live show today and if you missed our time with, writer, speaker and systems guy Timothy L. Johnson…we’ll you missed something!  We also had a great segment, in the opening portion about “Marketing to Women on Facebook”.  We thought a little sexist but what it says can work across the gender divide.  So…a little less of me and more about the show.   At first I’m groaning about “losing” my cell phone.  Honest…it get’s better with Timothy L. Johnson…enjoy!

Mike Lessiter & Tom Vander Well – January 13, 2010

On the show, Insight on Business we had two guests, Mike Lessiter here for the Annual No-Till Agriculture conference and Tom Vander Well about customer service centers.  Great information and two excellent guests.  Oh..and we also talked about Mingle360…WHAT?  Go ahead and watch/listen it’s a hoot with some real world applications. 

Insight on Business is a production of our advertising agency, Insight Advertising, Marketing & Communications and brought to you by:  www.LotusMoments.com, www.NatraTurf.com and www.ESP4All.com now…on with the show:

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