Your mind has gone blank, 3 steps to overcome writers block.

You’ve been sitting for hours. Crumpled papers surround you and you are starting to go blind from staring at the cursor on your computer screen. Writers block, a situation where our brain jumps ship and we’re left holding the ticket. 

So what do we do when our mind is on the run? How do we overcome this conundrum?

Step One
Observe: Take a break and visit a popular area in town such as the mall or the park and observe. Watch people actions and listen to what they talk about. Chances are more than a few of them are your target viewers. Take notes and write down any idea that comes to mind. 

Step Two
Research: Conduct social research to understand your readers even better. What are your target viewers interested in and posting about? You can do this by using search tools such as Twitter Venn and Twitter Spectrum. These sites allow you to use key words to see what’s being talked about on Twitter. 

Step Three 
Mind Map: Apply your research. Use the keywords you have gained from your research and create a list of the first ten words you think after saying each one. 

A few thoughts from the creators of BLUROCK a blog sponsored by LE-BLU Marketing.

If this helped you, feel free to leave a comment or contact us at blog@le-blu.com

Your brand just got hijacked, 3 steps to take it back.

Social Media has changed the game. In the old days company executives could sit comfortably in their plush offices broadcasting commercials, buying print and blanketing a market with radio spots resting comfortably knowing that their brand was safe. Knowing that the little guy’s voice would be soon drowned out. In the good old days, a few disenfranchised customers couldn’t really do that much damage to your image. Today however things have changed. With the advent of social media, a single angry customer can seriously tarnish a brands image with ranting blogs, angry tweets and unkind facebook statuses. Today's customers appear to be reviling in their new found power.

How does a company respond? What measures should be taken to minimize the damage?

Step One

Recognize that you can’t control it. Some companies have tried to have their own staff pose as customers to ensure positive comments on the web. Not only is this ethically questionable, but your customers will see through it every time. Instead of discouraging the conversation, learn how to turn your customers into your very best promotion.

Step Two

Find out if you are in the wrong. If you did blow it, admit your mistake and go over and above what is necessary to fix the problem. Chances are the customer will make just as much noise about how you fixed their problem as they did on the mistake itself.

Step Three

Sometimes accepting a small loss can differ a larger defeat. Ask yourself if this is an issue people will rally around and is it easier to just placate the customer?

A few thoughts from the creators of BLUROCK a blog sponsored by LE-BLU Marketing.

If this helped you, feel free to leave a comment or contact us at blog@le-blu.com

Rockout To Improve Sales

All to often we find ourselves discrediting the generation after us as unwilling to dedicate themselves. In this case to the realm of music.

The truth is we simply have not found the proper way to reach them.

I recently encountered this pessimistic way of thinking at a local music shop. They needed to improve sales and had been seeing a decline in young customers. When the owner began to blame it on video games it hit me.

What if he held an event that encouraged teens to compete against each other for title of Rock-band god. The event would take place in his music store where the teens would be surrounded by the instruments the were alluding to playing. Wanting to do more they would purchase real instruments. The store owner would also be poised to offer an array of lessons aimed at turning rockband legends into 6 stringed powerhouses.

Congratulations my musical entrepreneur its payday.

1 Step to Marketing You Can't Pay For

Step 1:

Create a product and a brand so irresistible that your customers feel compelled to share their experience with the world.

Step 2: (optional)

Sit back and enjoy as your customers become the best marketing campaign you could ever hope for.

Don't you wish he was speaking about you?

Blockhead

Welcome to February. The season of love, also the precursor to tax season. Once again Mr & Mrs Public are looking ahead at filing their yearly 1040. They are beginning to remember the discomfort of sorting through endlessly complex tax laws; the pain and anguish of figuring out what goes where and how each item is required to be filled. They are at this moment calling out for help. Who is going to answer?

In this moment of need there is an incredible opportunity. Which businesses are positioning themselves not only to help, but perhaps more importantly to be noticed? Two businesses have managed to reach out into my world and grab my attention. However, that is where the similarities end.

Business #1:

These guys gained my attention by hiring a temp to stand on corner of Burger King dressed up as the Statue of Liberty. Sadly I was not impressed.

Business #2

The second one decided to sponsor 24 hours, commercial free on the popular internet tv site Hulu. This was actually a service to me, 24 hours of my favorite shows completely uninterrupted by even a single commercial.

There after they have systematically aired short 10 second commercials highlighting questions that I might have about my taxes; questions that they can answer. Not only does H&R Block have my attention, they also have my gratitude.

Both businesses took the time to advertise, only one knew how to market themselves properly. Any guess which one most people will go to this tax season? I'll give you a hint; it's not going to be the one with the creepy guy in the costume. Both got my attention, but only one will get my business. What does your marketing say about you?

who cares

That's the question many people today are left asking. Go take a trip to your local big box-mart and see how many employees are willing to go out of their way to do something for you. I know that at mine it is about as likely as dividing by zero. Or head over to the local dealership. While I'm confident that the you will be greeted by a more than helpful salesman, I'm also pretty confident that his primary concern will be selling you that car and not doing what is best for you.

OUR FAVORITE BOXMART

Sadly, in our hustle to strike it rich and sell as much product as the market will swallow, we have somehow traded our principles for cash. Please don't misunderstand me, I am by no means questioning the integrity of these businesses. Instead I'm wondering what would happen to your business if your customer knew that you had his best interest in mind. Would he come again and again? Would he pass up cheaper alternatives? I know I would.

Food for thought from BLUROCK