The ROI of Social Media Marketing

What is the ROI of Social Media? What are the KPI's?  How do you measure them?

Those are the questions that occupy Marketing.  Much ink has been spilled in the answers. Back in the day I asked an early Social Media practioner for his definition of Social Media. His response resonated:  'Individuals having the power (channels) to tell their stories directly'.  Unfiltered, unedited, raw...for good or bad...an individual opinion.

Fast forward to Social Media Marketing and the kernel of that definition still holds true. Marketers today look to individuals to tell the brand story via their social media channels. Word-of-mouth on steroids!

Chris M Morales

chris.morales@bell.net

@ChrisMoralesTO

647 393 3855

The opinions expressed on this blog are my own and are not associated with any other group or organization

Silly Runners

Silly runners...

If I had $1 for every time I've heard that I'd have...well not a Million Dollars but several thousands at least.  Non runners just don't get the joy of running.  They talk about about how boring it must be to just run.  "You mean that's it?  No ball or bat or anything?"  Nope!  I've spent so much time responding that I've exhausted just about all explanations.  Now I just say that running is like Scotch:  It's an acqired taste.  And out on a long, tough run thinking about a 'wee dram' of good Single Malt has gotten me through more times than not.

My fellow runners will get this.  Non-runners probably not.  If you've read the book by Christopher McDougall, Born to Run, you'll definitely that running is the heart of what makes humans Human. I love the theory that it's actually at the heart of our evolutionary superiority.

Not all evolution is good however.  Want to save the planet, get everyone running again.  Or at least walking.  With so much of the First World decidely NOT RUNNING, is it any wonder we've got so bloated?  On every level!  

Gotta go...for a run!

Until next time...

ThatRunninGuy

Why Selling Skills Matter

Selling skills are important for every job, not just professional sales people.  No matter your job, position or level, your success depends on being able to sell the benefits of...YOU!

Years ago I was advised that I had done a terrible job of 'Managing the Management'.  Too arrogant and inexperienced to understand what that meant, I ignored the advice and promptly found myself 'between engagements'...unemployed!  Not eager to repeat that experience, I looked into what the term meant.  Revelation!  It was the same advice we advertising folks give to our clients:  Sell the Sizzle!  Or, "Consumers buy Benefits!' I've applied that lesson ever since in every job and activity. Companies hire staff to perform specific functions that benefit the organization and its customers.

All of this to say that sales skills matter!  It's what I stress in the Professional Selling Course I deliver at George Brown College Continuing Education.  From having a professional LinkedIn profile to learning how to overcome objectives, Students learn how to ask proper questions, how to listen effectively and most importantly, practice presentation skills.  The basiscs of being more professional at every level.

Here's the link to register:  GBC Continuing Education - Professional Selling

See you in class!

Chris M Morales

chris.morales@bell.net

@ChrisMoralesTO

647 393 3855

The opinions expressed on this blog are my own and are not associated with any other group or organization

Sleep Apnea: Not so good for Running

Sleep Apnea.  Undiagnosed during regular checkups and invisible to blood tests seems to be the root cause of the deterioration in my running performance.  That's the latest theory anyway and we're back to some intensive testing.  Whew!  Or should that be 'Yippee!'

I met with the 'Sleep Doctor' last week.  That's not his primary specialty however after he reviewed all the test results over the past 9 months, his diagnosis was that sleep apenea was the root cause for the sudden deterioration I experienced last year in my running performance.  

It turns out that I have a pretty severe case of sleep apnea.  I'll spare you the details of physiology that led to this but surfice to say the results of the overnight sleep test indicate that I briefly stop breathing 30 times each hour.  This is exhausting to say the least and his diagnosis is that it has affected my running performance most directly.  Put another way, if I wasn't a runner and noticed the sudden drop, the condition would have continued un-noticed.  I'm looking at the full CPAP sleeping aparatus by this fall but first...another test!

Mid August I heading to another overnight sleep clinic for a CPAP test.  I'll be hooked up to monitors and sleep with the apparatus attached.  This is to help calibrate the pressure of the oxygen in the pump and evaluate what type of mask works best.  I've been hooked up once before so although un-natural, I'll be able to sleep.  Contacts, wires mask et al.

Once through all this the Sleep Doctor feels that once I get back to being able to actually rest when I'm sleeping, I'll be able to reverse the oxygen processing that has declined. Not back to mid-30's levels of course;  I'd be happy to pre-September 2016 levels.  

So Larry, my Reggae Marathon running friend, you're still safe in the Reggae Marathon Challenge...for now!

Until next time...
ThatRunninGuy