As more and more people are trying to figure out how to leverage Social Media to help grow their sales, it serves us well to remember some of the basics of effective selling. The best salespeople seek to help. That may sound obvious, but it’s not. So many salespeople are trying to sell what they have to everyone instead of being targeted in their selling efforts. It makes more sense to find people who are interested in your product and service and help them. Social Media allows you to do this. You can observe discussion threads in LinkedIn Groups, you can follow conversations regarding Twitter hashtags, and you can see interactions on Facebook Fan Pages. These are all valuable sources of sales leads. Learn to skim information and identify places where you can help. And help doesn’t mean, “Buy my product, buy my product.” Just remember not to kiss on …
Sometimes Fast is Slow and Slow is Fast
As we all become more and more connected, we’re finding that it still takes time to build relationships. We have the ability to learn tremendous amounts about people from a distance hiding behind our computers. I’m not talking about stalking here. Stalking is trying to find out something about someone that they don’t want you to find out about them. I’m talking about looking at their Social Networking profiles and figuring out who they represent themselves to be and determining if this is someone you’d like to connect with. We can add connections with lightning-like speed, but relationships still take time, and always will. Just because you’re connected to everybody and their brother doesn’t mean that you have a relationship with everyone and their brother. And it doesn’t mean you should have a relationship with everyone and their brother. You can’t. There just isn’t enough time in one lifetime. So …
Thoreau Was Right
“Men have become tools of their tools.” -Henry David Thoreau Thoreau wrote those words a long time ago. And I’m sure they were appropriate back then. And we all know that they’re very appropriate now. There’s a current cell phone ad that points this out brilliantly with people banging into each other and tripping over things while they’re staring incessantly at their cell phones. When did it become acceptable to ignore people and become obsessed with electronics? I don’t claim to be much better than anyone else when it comes to electronic addiction, but I’m getting a lot better. I had to hit bottom before I was ready to come back up for air. And that’s a lot what it’s like – fighting for air. With every new gadget, app, and toy we’re fighting for air, also known as concentration. It may serve us well to set boundaries for our …
Social Media Update
What a year it’s been for Social Media. The nature of Social Media is that it’s changing very quickly – actually day to day. Even if you work in Social Media it’s difficult to stay up with all the changes that are happening. Let’s take a look at some of the things happening on “The Big Three”, commonly referred to as LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter as we approach the end of 2010. LinkedIn LinkedIn has really been upping their game lately. There are now over 85,000,000 people with LinkedIn profiles worldwide. The average LinkedIn user is 41 years old and earns $107,000 a year. This is THE Social Networking site for professionals. Recently, LinkedIn has turned on some new bells and whistles on a number of places on the site. On the Company Pages, you now have the ability to add marketing materials, descriptions of products and services and client …
LinkedIn Reaches 70,000,000 Users
LinkedIn recently hit 70M users worldwide. While less than 40M are in the USA, LinkedIn’s American growth is staggering. I was using LinkedIn back in 2003 and I was like a voice crying in the wilderness. I would encourage people to start using the site for networking, job searches, business due diligence and other purposes. Quite often, people didn’t create a profile at the time, but they are now. Boy, are they now. The world is getting smaller. Whereas only a few years ago you would almost never heard of LinkedIn in the press, now you’re hearing about it every day if not multiple times a day. Most people have figured out that Social Media isn’t a pet rock, mood ring or hula hoop. This isn’t going away. Facebook and Twitter have been very social by nature and LinkedIn has always been about business. But I’m seeing changes on LinkedIn. I’m …
February 2010 From Kevin Knebl
2/14/09 Hello again to my friends, family, colleagues, and clients. Many of you know me personally as coaching clients, networking or through one of my speaking engagements related to online and offline networking, Social Media, LinkedIn training, or personal development; and some of you may know me by LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, email or telephone. Welcome to everyone that’s new to this distribution list. There are a lot of very smart and interesting people that I am fortunate to network with. We share books, movies, music and ideas that stimulate us. I’m always interested to learn what other people that I respect are reading, watching and listening to. This is my monthly newsletter with books I’ve recently read, movies seen, music devoured, ideas and other things that may be of interest to you. I focus on topics related to networking, Social Media and inspiration, but you never know what you’ll find …
August 2009 From Kevin Knebl
8/1/09 Hello again to my friends, family, colleagues, and clients. Many of you know me personally through networking or through one of my speaking engagements related online and offline networking, Social Media, LinkedIn training, or personal development; and some of you may know me by LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, email or telephone. Welcome to everyone that’s new to this distribution list. There are a lot of very smart and interesting people that I am fortunate to network with. We share books, movies, music and ideas that stimulate us. I’m always interested to learn what other people that I respect are reading, watching and listening to. This is my monthly newsletter with books I’ve recently read, movies seen, music devoured, ideas and other things that may be of interest to you. I focus on topics related to networking, Social Media and inspiration, but you never know what you’ll find here. If you …
July 2009 From Kevin Knebl
7/1/09 Hello again to my friends, family, colleagues, and clients. Many of you know me personally through networking or through one of my speaking engagements related online and offline networking, Social Media, LinkedIn training, or personal development; and some of you may know me by LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, email or telephone. Welcome to everyone that’s new to this distribution list. There are a lot of very smart and interesting people that I am fortunate to network with. We share books, movies, music and ideas that stimulate us. I’m always interested to learn what other people that I respect are reading, watching and listening to. This is my monthly newsletter with books I’ve recently read, movies seen, music devoured, ideas and other things that may be of interest to you. I focus on topics related to networking, Social Media and inspiration, but you never know what you’ll find here. If you …
June 2009 From Kevin Knebl
6/1/09 Hello again to my friends, family, colleagues, and clients. Many of you know me personally through networking or through one of my speaking engagements related online and offline networking, Social Media, LinkedIn training, or personal development; and some of you may know me by LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, email or telephone. Welcome to everyone that’s new to this distribution list. There are a lot of very smart and interesting people that I am fortunate to network with. We share books, movies, music and ideas that stimulate us. I’m always interested to learn what other people that I respect are reading, watching and listening to. This is my monthly newsletter with books I’ve recently read, movies seen, music devoured, ideas and other things that may be of interest to you. I focus on topics related to networking, Social Media and inspiration, but you never know what you’ll find here. If you …
April 2009 From Kevin Knebl
4/1/09 Hello again to my friends, family, colleagues, and clients. Many of you know me personally through work, networking or through one of my speaking engagements related online and offline networking, Social Media, LinkedIn® training, or personal development; and some of you may know me by LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, email or telephone. Welcome to everyone that’s new to this distribution list. There are a lot of very smart and interesting people that I am fortunate to network with. We share books, movies, music and ideas that stimulate us. I’m always interested to learn what other people that I respect are reading, watching and listening to. This is my monthly email newsletter with books I’ve recently read, movies seen, music devoured, ideas and other things that may be of interest to you. I tend to focus on topics related to networking, Social Media and inspiration, but you never know what you’ll …
March 2009 From Kevin Knebl
3/1/09 Hello again to my friends, family, colleagues, and clients. Many of you know me personally through work, networking or through one of my speaking engagements related online and offline networking, Social Media and personal development; and some of you may know me by LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, email or telephone. Welcome to everyone that’s new to this distribution list. There are a lot of very smart and interesting people that I am fortunate to network with. We share books, movies, music and ideas that stimulate us. I’m always interested to learn what other people that I respect are reading, watching and listening to. This is my monthly email newsletter with books I’ve recently read, movies seen, music devoured, ideas and other things that may be of interest to you. If you find this interesting and would like to pass it on, please feel free to do so. If you’d like …
2/15/09 Gazette Interview
(There are a few errors in some of my personal information, but overall, The Gazette recorded my comments correctly) Social-media wiz clues in small businesses Comments 0 | Recommend 0 February 13, 2009 – 8:39 PM WAYNE HEILMAN THE GAZETTE Kevin Knebl is more than just another user of Facebook, Linked-In and Plaxo; he teaches business owners and managers how those Internet sites can become important tools to recruit potential customers and turn them into loyal, long-term partners. While he has spent his entire adult life at a keyboard, Knebl started his career tickling the ivories as a professional pianist and singer in New York for 12 years before he married and found that music wouldn't support his family. He moved into sales 10 years ago, mostly selling services to businesses, relocated to Colorado Springs in 2004 and has sold outsourced human resources to small businesses for the past two …
February 2009 From Kevin Knebl
2/1/09 Hello again to my friends, family, colleagues, and clients. Many of you know me personally through work, networking or through one of my speaking engagements related to sales skills, effective online and offline networking, LinkedIn and Social Media training and personal development; and some of you may know me only by email and telephone. Welcome to everyone that’s new to this distribution list. There are a lot of very smart and interesting people that I am fortunate to network with. We share books, movies, music and ideas that stimulate us. I’m always interested to learn what other people that I respect are reading, watching and listening to. This is my monthly email newsletter with books I’ve recently read, movies seen, music devoured, ideas and other things that may be of interest to you. If you find this interesting and would like to pass it on, please feel free to …
January 2009 From Kevin Knebl
1/1/09 Hello again to my friends, family, colleagues, and clients. Many of you know me personally through work, networking or through one of my speaking engagements related to sales skills, effective online and offline networking, LinkedIn and Social Media training and personal development; and some of you may know me only by email and telephone. Welcome to everyone that’s new to this distribution list. There are a lot of very smart and interesting people that I am fortunate to network with. We share books, movies, music and ideas that stimulate us. I’m always interested to learn what other people that I respect are reading, watching and listening to. This is my monthly email newsletter with books I’ve recently read, movies seen, music devoured, ideas and other things that may be of interest to you. If you find this interesting and would like to pass it on, please feel free to …
December 2008 From Kevin Knebl
12/1/08 Hello again to my friends, family, colleagues, and clients. Many of you know me personally through work, networking or through one of my speaking engagements related to sales skills, effective networking and personal development; and some of you may know me only by email and telephone. Welcome to everyone that’s new to this distribution list. There are a lot of very smart and interesting people that I am fortunate to network with. We share books, movies, music and ideas that stimulate us. I'm always interested to learn what other people that I respect are reading, watching and listening to. This is my monthly email newsletter with books I’ve recently read, movies seen, music devoured, ideas and other things that may be of interest to you. If you find this interesting and would like to pass it on, please feel free to do so. If you’d like to be removed …
November 2008 From Kevin Knebl
11/1/08 Hello again to my friends, family, colleagues, and clients. Many of you know me personally through work, networking or through one of my speaking engagements related to sales skills, effective networking and personal development; and some of you may know me only by email and telephone. Welcome to everyone that’s new to this distribution list. There are a lot of very smart and interesting people that I am fortunate to network with. We share books, movies, music and ideas that stimulate us. I'm always interested to learn what other people that I respect are reading, watching and listening to. This is my monthly email newsletter with books I’ve recently read, movies seen, music devoured, ideas and other things that may be of interest to you. If you find this interesting and would like to pass it on, please feel free to do so. If you’d like to be removed …
October 2008 From Kevin Knebl
10/1/08 Hello again to my friends, family, colleagues, and clients. Many of you know me personally through work, networking or through one of my speaking engagements related to sales skills, effective networking and personal development; and some of you may know me only by email and telephone. Welcome to everyone that’s new to this distribution list. There are a lot of very smart and interesting people that I am fortunate to network with. We share books, movies, music and ideas that stimulate us. I'm always interested to learn what other people that I respect are reading, watching and listening to. This is my monthly email newsletter with books I’ve recently read, movies seen, music devoured, ideas and other things that may be of interest to you. If you find this interesting and would like to pass it on, please feel free to do so. If you’d like to be removed …
September 2008 From Kevin Knebl
9/1/08 Hello again to my friends, family, colleagues, and clients. Many of you know me personally through work, networking or through one of my speaking engagements related to sales skills, professional networking and personal development; and some of you may know me only by email and telephone. Welcome to everyone that’s new to this distribution list. There are a lot of very smart and interesting people that I am fortunate to network with. We share books, movies, music and ideas that stimulate us. I'm always interested to learn what other people that I respect are reading, watching and listening to. This is my monthly email newsletter with books I’ve recently read, movies seen, music devoured, ideas and other things that may be of interest to you. If you find this interesting and would like to pass it on, please feel free to do so. If you’d like to be removed …
August 2008 From Kevin Knebl
8/1/08 Hello again to my friends, family, colleagues, and clients. Many of you know me personally through work, networking or through one of my speaking engagements related to sales skills, professional networking and personal development; and some of you may know me only by email and telephone. Welcome to everyone that's new to this distribution list. There are a lot of very smart and interesting people that I am fortunate to network with. We share books, movies, music and ideas that stimulate us. I'm always interested to learn what other people that I respect are reading, watching and listening to. This is my monthly email newsletter with books I've recently read, movies seen, music devoured, ideas and other things that may be of interest to you. If you find this interesting and would like to pass it on, please feel free to do so. If you'd like to be removed …
July 2008 From Kevin Knebl
7/1/08 Hello again to my friends, family, colleagues, and clients. Many of you know me personally through work, networking or through one of my speaking engagements related to sales skills, professional networking and personal development; and some of you may know me only by email and telephone. Welcome to everyone that’s new to this distribution list. There are a lot of very smart and interesting people that I am fortunate to network with. We share books, movies, music and ideas that stimulate us. I'm always interested to learn what other people that I respect are reading, watching and listening to. This is my monthly email newsletter with books I’ve recently read, movies seen, music devoured, ideas and other things that may be of interest to you. If you find this interesting and would like to pass it on, please feel free to do so. If you’d like to be removed …