benlehman.com » Technology

Letting go of control, utilizing emerging/digital media in a troubled traditional market

BLehman — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 18:59:30 +0000

What he said…

To wrap this up, I want to share this quote that keeps popping to mind from Mavericks at Work which is applicable and very relevant: “Our basic argument is as straightforward as it is urgent: when it comes to thriving in a hyper competitive marketplace, ‘playing it safe’ is no longer playing it smart. In an economy defined by overcapacity, oversupply, and utter sensory overload–an economy in which everyone already has more than enough of whatever it is you’re selling–the only way to stand out from the crowd is to stand for a truly distinctive set of ideas about where your industry should be going. You can’t do big things as a competitor if you’re content with doing things only a little better than the competition.” Are you playing it safe or letting go of control, standing for a truly distinctive set of ideas?

I’m a finalist!

BLehman — Sun, 17 May 2009 21:49:03 +0000

Oops, I meant “panelist” …not the same. Come out and watch me sweat under the scrutiny of Nashville’s best social media minds May 19th at the Aloft Hotel in Franklin. I’m a panelist on the Nashville Social Media Club panel discussion, “Using Social Media in Business.” I’m likely to stammer and drink a lot, this being my first time to be a public panelist, I’ve been a private panelist for many years.

May 19th, 2009: Social Media Club Nashville
Aloft Hotel, Cool Springs, Tennessee
Using Social Media in Business

My website picks for today’s corporate sales executive

BLehman — Fri, 15 May 2009 19:44:49 +0000

www.linkedin.com – great source of information for researching, connecting. Possibilities are endless.
www.tripit.com – easily share your trip itineraries, plans by emailing them to the site.
www.twitter.com – the resolution of information is unbeatable. The potential to learn, stay relevant in quick snippets is a no-brainer. (see www.twitter.grader.com to find and track the most influential)
www.slideshare.com – a free easy to use site to upload and share your presentations, privately or with the world. (also see www.brainshark.com)
www.wordpress.com – there can be no stronger tool today than a simple blog of ideas. Ideas are today’s currency.
www.CREMA-coffee.com – a growing list of hand selected specialty coffee shop recommendations across the country, compiled by their traveling Barista.
www.polleverywhere.com – what do you need most during your presentation? Real time feedback, with live polling you got it via txt or web.

Bluring the line: is tap the new click?

BLehman — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 02:12:34 +0000

As one half owner of a small business I know the value of every dollar. Before investing a single dollar we must ensure that each is maximized, ’cause there ain’t many of them! Website and e-marketing strategy development is not cheap because of the many hours invested. No matter what your CEO’s 15 year old third cousin trumpets as “web design!” As we bankroll our website I often wonder what percentage of our consumers ACTUALLY visit our website? We’re investing all this money for a technology that contributes nothing in-store, to that essential experience that makes us successful. Why wait for them to go to your site, why not bring the site to them, couldn’t the two experiences be blended. Why is there a chasm? How much more would we maximize our investment if EVERY in-store visitor utilized the website. Stop thinking of it as a “website” and rather as a service that enables us to achieve our objectives – intimately know our consumer, engage community, educate, communicate, enable an interactive brand, empower the community to promote and grow itself. The iPhone and the HP TouchSmart have blurred how we interact with websites, applications and technology. Maybe tap is the new click? Maybe our next website will be a service that our community fluidly interfaces with, your location or modality has no relevance.

What do you think?