Calliope Cow Tips

One person - One voice

2011-05-16T09:54:00.000-07:00

What is crazy about social media today is that it is often the voice and responsibility of ONE person. Tweets from even the biggest names in business and entertainment still stem from a solitary being behind a computer. From the White House to CNN to Fortune500 companies, the Tweet we all read comes from a sole perspective. The power of the Tweet is narrowed down to one person's ENTER key on the keyboard. Is there too much power? Can one person's Tweet jeopardize a powerhouse in industry? The media sure pays attention to Twitter, so a word to the wise: Tweet Carefully.

Is Social Media right for every company?

2011-05-05T06:52:00.000-07:00

Social Media is exactly what is says - SOCIAL. There are commercials out there right now that have a call to action to Facebook and Twitter for products and services that are far from "social". For example, the commercial for toilet paper, says "Follow us on Facebook". Why on earth would I want to learn more about toilet paper? I understand if they want to promote coupons or deals, but that's about it. The purpose of social media is to inform, engage and proactively interact with a target audience. Toilet paper has a very large (if not complete) target audience, but has little need so for social action. Companies that have philanthropic entities are logical for social media, but I haven't seen too much out of Charmin about their donations... Other industries, such as big box stores, need a more "coupon-type" outlet for their social media alternative. Off base or on target? Let us know!

Don't hide your true Face...book status

2011-03-23T11:31:00.000-07:00

Remember about 5 years ago when you were sitting at your lonely desk all day and you had to sneak a peak at your facebook profile? Now, ironically, Facebook is a part of our jobs. If you're not constantly up to date on the social media moment, you're not doing your job well enough! Even more ironically, people get paid (good money) to tweet and facebook for other companies! Social Media now defines the landscape. It's either free or significantly more affordable than previously "standard" marketing practices and certainly has more quantifiable data to prove it. Keep your eyes peeled for that "hide from your boss" moment (not porn.....) and see if it becomes the next big thing.

The Greatest Job in New Orleans!

2011-01-24T12:52:00.000-08:00

What's the greatest job in New Orleans?

As we all know, NOLA is one of the most unique job markets. That being said, who has the best job specific to New Orleans? Calliope has some thoughts... the photographer for Dear New Orleans, might have one of them. Another might be the Mayor...? What do you think?

Branding, like a on a cow...

2010-11-12T12:04:00.001-08:00

How well is your company branded? Is your brand seen? If so, by whom?

It's the little things that grab people's attention. When you're shopping, grabbing coffee, driving down the street, what do you notice? Do you have a bumper sticker on your car? If so, can you imagine how many people see it on a daily basis? Take the time to think about your brand and how accessible it is to the general public. It's one thing for your clients to know who you are but it's entirely different for the unintentional target audience to recognize your brand.

Want a good example - I have a bumper sticker on the back of my laptop. Every time I open it in a public place, the entire coffee shop/airport lounge/office space sees my company's name and logo. It cost a total of $1.39 for that bumper sticker. On average, 30-40 people see it a day. Not a bad one time fixed cost investment.

Take the time to look around and see what brands you see. Recognize any?

What is a consultant?

2010-11-08T08:10:00.000-08:00

What is a "consultant"? It is, without a doubt, one of the most vague job titles in existence. A consultant is an expert in a field that can be outsourced for multiple clients. Our company, for example, is a collection of consultants that serve a wide variety of clients with unique needs. As a consultant, your strength relies on your ability to think out of the box to strategically solve a problem for a client. Not just problems though. That's the trick. Some clients have specific needs and ask for our help to rectify. A good consultant will not only solve the problem but research the client and its practices to see if there are any other areas they could improve upon and give suggestions to do so.

So that's a consultant.... part 1.

What's in a name?

2010-10-04T11:42:00.000-07:00

What's in a name? Everything.

Branding is one of the first major hurtles of starting a new business. From the logo to the color scheme, your brand is your face to the world. Determining the "essence" of your company takes time and strategy. Catering to your clients as well as properly representing yourself is no easy task.

When branding, try these tips:

- What service do you provide? Are you one of a kind or do you find yourself with a lot of similar competition. Either way, you need to set yourself apart.
- Who am I trying to target? Will my company's name accurately describe what I have to offer?
- Where am I? Trust your surroundings and include your city/state etc. in this decision.
- Stick with it. Once you've created a brand, don't change it. Losing consistency is a huge "no-no". Clients see it and the public sees it. Stick to your guns.
- Branding takes time. Companies like Coke are still revamping their brand all the time, but keep a consistent look about them.
- And finally, take suggestions! The creative process is usually better with several heads.

I'll tweet you mine if you tweet me yours...

2010-09-21T12:30:00.000-07:00

Twitter was hacked today. Ironically, the theme of today's blog post was already going to be Twitter and its usefulness in social networking. I guess the theme has to be "tweaked" a bit.

Twitter had a rocky start. Critics thought it overwhelming and useless. That wasn't very long ago. Now, even the President of the United States tweets on a daily basis. Like Facebook, Twitter has thousands of followers who have become addicted to it's social capacity. From the still tentative user to the constant follower, Twitter allows for a level playing field in the social network. Anyone can follow the President, just like the President can follow me, for example. I doubt he reads my tweets, but it's a nice thought of the chance. Feeling one step closer to those who used to be out of reach is one of Twitter's primary, yet often ignored, advantages.

Twitter is free, which automatically creates a user friendly environment. I wonder how many people would continue to use it if they had to pay per tweet? Same with Facebook. What if you had to pay per visit? Online dating sites do it, why not social networking sites?

The main point I want to make about Twitter is that it can be quite useful to growing a business. IF used correctly, and that's a big IF, even the little fish can make a big impact. Showing the world how important your business or organization is can be the difference between success and failure. Drawing attention to important issues through a free marketplace is an invaluable tool. Not only can information be distributed instantly, a user rarely has to seek out the information; it practically comes to them.

Learning the tricks of the trade, like how to gain followers, is a never ending task. It is, in my opinion well worth the trouble though. One tip is to follow those who you would like to be followed by. Following like groups or people can help broaden your own horizons. They often share pertinent information and tips that could really help. Ideally, once they see that you follow them, they will follow you back. One way to show them that you are genuinely interested is by retweeting and direct tweeting them. Let them know you are not an idle user, but one who cares about the information they are sharing.

Take the time to develop your own Twitter. It's an interface to the world!

I'll tweet you if you tweet me!

Where's your money going?

2010-09-13T12:25:00.000-07:00

Small businesses and non profits certainly don't have money to waste. At Calliope, a part of our mission is to provide the most cost effective methods to our efforts. From advertising to web development, we do our best to ensure that our clients are getting the most bang for their buck.

How do you know where your money is going? Do some research yourself. Ask questions. Make it a point to be involved. There is no such thing as being completely current with ever changing technology. We encourage you to follow each dollar spent. See if it's going to the places you think it should.

By networking and performing independent research, Calliope collaborates with local and national entities and groups to get as much pertinent information as possible. We try our best to stay up to speed, but we all know it's quite futile. We are completely transparent about our methods so that our clients can follow each dollar. It is not our goal to get big bucks (although it would be nice) but rather, make sure the non profit and small business community remains sustainable.

5 Easy Website Tips

2010-09-08T08:26:00.001-07:00

5 Easy Website Tips from Calliope the Cow, CCG's consluting guru:

1. The commonly known "page and a half rule". This rule pertains to most websites, but not all. Generally, a page plus a little scrolling down is all a site visitor is willing to do to get information. Too much info past the fold is significantly less likely to be seen or read.

2. Content restriction - don't overwhelm your site's visitors by bombarding them with words! Try to condense the information. Think bullet points of information.

3. Keep the content current. Having a static site is fine, unless you want people to come back to it. If your company or organization is active, then so should your website. Bringing new and previous visitors to your website is pivotal.

4. Don't be afraid to be different. Try unique designs or elements for your site. Engage your audience through specific ideas and trends on your site. Generic sites function perfectly well, but a unique site will capture the attention and imagination of your visitors.

5. Social Networking. It's obvious, but often ignored. If you want to retain interest, be proactive. Don't wait for people to follow you, reach out to them and show your commitment to them. Use tools like Facebook(TM) and Twitter(TM). They are free and easy to use. It's just a simple matter of getting the energy to utilize them to their fullest.

Check in for more free tips!

New Orleans Networking

2010-09-07T11:51:00.000-07:00

In New Orleans, knowing "something" isn't always enough. Knowing "someone" can really make the difference when it comes to the job market. This same fact may be true in other cities, but New Orleans has that small town kind of feel that makes knowing "someone" a little more important.

While the job market is... slow, the best thing you can do (besides plaster your resume all over) is to reach out to your friends, neighbors, former co-workers, family etc. to see if they have any connections or suggestions you can follow up on.

Referral business keeps the New Orleans marketplace running. Knowing one person in New Orleans can open any number of doors.

The Calliope Consulting Group brings in newcomers as well as veterans of the Crescent City to collaborate on projects (insert shameless plug here). Breaking the cycle of full time employment can bring about fresh ideas, partnerships and connections. Don't be afraid of reaching out.

How to produce a successful event in New Orleans

2010-08-31T14:49:00.000-07:00

New Orleans has more events in a given calendar year than many cities combined. Not just every weekend, but several times a day. New Orleanians often take for granted the multitude of opportunities that lay at their feet, but not us. Calliope Consulting Group tries to initiate, coordinate, volunteer-ate, and participate in as many events as possible.

To produce such an event, start with a great idea. Challenging yourself to create an event that accomplishes a goal is the first crucial step. Awareness events, fundraisers or good ol' fashioned fun events are all equally enjoyable.

Long term planning is always helpful, but sometimes things just come up. You always run with your ideas until something either stops them or something better springs up from them. Event planning is an organic experience, often times happening around a table with creative minds.

Utilizing local resources and experts to fill gaps can make the event planning process much easier, cheaper and faster. Creating lasting relationships with companies and organizations will prove valuable in the future.