7MS #467: How to Succeed in Business Without Really Crying - Part 9

7MS #467: How to Succeed in Business Without Really Crying - Part 9

Hey everybody! I stayed in a hotel for the first time in over a year and boy oh boy...I hope I didn't get COVID from the bedsheets!

Anyhow, on that journey I thought of some things that I think will help your business on the marketing/project management/sales side to be more successful and less annoying. DISCLAIMER: I have no formal training in these areas, but I've been on both sides of the table for a number of years, and I think I'm getting a better idea of what clients do and don't like during the sales process. These things include:

  • Reduce layers of people complexity - don't have 17 of your people on the client intro/pitch call and then ghost them once they actually want to buy something!

  • Keep project management just complicated enough - I like project management tools and spreadsheet task-trackers like Smartsheet but I'm trying to let the client lead as far as how much detail they need when tracking their projects. By default, we create a document with a high level map of project milestones, timelines and key contact information. We update that as often as the client likes.

  • Personalize responses to Web leads - if you have an info@ or sales@ address for your business, I think you should personalize the response you give folks who write in. They wrote you for a reason! Don't just copy/paste some generic "Hey you wanted info about our company so here it is blah blah blah" response, that doesn't make people feel like you give a rip about their needs. Think of something personal to say in the reply. "Oh, I see you're in Minnesota. I'm a big Twins fan!" Something like that. Simple, easy and personal.

  • Don't sign people up for junk without asking - in this episode I give an example of a vendor we looked at (but didn't select) for some services, and the company decided to automatically sign ups up for a bunch of electronic and paper mailings. That's super annoying!

  • Don't stink at LinkedIn - in the last episode of this series, I told you about a guy who (to me) wins LinkedIn and the Internet because he sent me a personalized video LinkedIn invitation - it was awesome! Be more like that guy, and less like the mosquitoes who send invites like "Hi, I noticed you're human and figured we should be LinkedIn BFFs" and then sign you up for a non-stop barrage of sales pitches!

  • Bug people "just enough" - if you've had an awesome scoping call for a potential project and the client has received and reviewed the SOW, stay in touch with them periodically - even if it feels like you're being ghosted.

Episoder(683)

7MS #11: Overtraining your iPhone Touch ID (video)

7MS #11: Overtraining your iPhone Touch ID (video)

In this episode I totally throw my subscribers for a loop and do a VIDEO podcast about overtraining your Touch ID on your iPhone. Download: 7MS #11: Overtraining your iPhone Touch ID (video) Show notes: I first read about this from Steve Gibson of GRC at https://www.grc.com/sn/sn-440.htm. But I was listening to the audio-only version…

12 Apr 20143min

7MS #10: Information Security for the Whole Family – part 2 (audio)

7MS #10: Information Security for the Whole Family – part 2 (audio)

In this episode I talk more about some infosec-y things I’m doing on the home front to nurture a security culture (if you will) with my wife and kids. Download: Episode 10: Information Security for the Whole Family – part 2 (audio) Show notes: If you have kids and are considering a tablet for them,…

5 Apr 20147min

7MS #9: Information Security for the Whole Family (audio)

7MS #9: Information Security for the Whole Family (audio)

In this episode I talk about how being an infosec guy has ruined my family’s life (well, not really) Download: Episode 9: Information Security for the Whole Family (audio) Show notes: To keep peace in your household, I’d recommend making sweeping network changes when your family members aren’t around (i.e. changing the wifi password :-)…

29 Mar 20147min

7MS #8: CISSP – Is That the Cert for Me? (audio)

7MS #8: CISSP – Is That the Cert for Me? (audio)

In this episode I talk about my experience prepping for the CISSP exam. Download: Episode 8: CISSP – Is That the Cert for Me? (audio) Show notes: I used this book as my primary study tool. It comes with a whole slew of companion materials like a pre-assessment test, flashcards and 3 full practice exams.…

22 Mar 20147min

7MS #7: External Vulnerabilities that Byte (audio)

7MS #7: External Vulnerabilities that Byte (audio)

Episode lucky #7!!! In this episode I talk about external network vulnerabilities that we see in many of our assessments – some of which are pretty easy to clear up. Download: Episode 7: External Vulnerabilities that Byte (audio) Show notes: RC4 – a risk that we find just about anywhere SSL is used, but in…

15 Mar 20147min

7MS #6: Fun Firewall Rules – part 2 (audio)

7MS #6: Fun Firewall Rules – part 2 (audio)

In this episode I continue talking about some basic firewall rules that many organizations don’t have in place. Download: Episode 6: Fun Firewall Rules – part 2 (audio) Show notes: Limit outbound DNS requests to just the ISP servers (or whatever external servers you use). Anytime a firewall rule is changed, perform a vulnerability scan…

8 Mar 20147min

7MS #5: Fun Firewall Rules – part 1 (audio)

7MS #5: Fun Firewall Rules – part 1 (audio)

In this episode I talk about some basic firewall rules that many organizations don’t have in place. Download: Episode 5: Fun Firewall Rules – part 1 (audio) Show notes: Block outbound port TCP 25 for all devices except your mail server(s). If you use a third party mail filter like Postini or Securence, ensure that…

1 Mar 20147min

7MS #4: Patch Strategies: Part Deux (audio)

7MS #4: Patch Strategies: Part Deux (audio)

In this episode I continue talking about some dos and donts of patch strategies – this time talking about enterprise level gear. Download: Episode 4: Patch Strategies: Part Deux (audio) Show notes: There are often two trains of thought in regards to enterprise gear patching (like routers, switches, firewalls). 1. If it ain’t broke, don’t…

22 Feb 20146min

Populært innen Politikk og nyheter

giver-og-gjengen-vg
aftenpodden
forklart
stopp-verden
aftenpodden-usa
popradet
nokon-ma-ga
dine-penger-pengeradet
fotballpodden-2
det-store-bildet
unitedno
e24-podden
aftenbla-bla
rss-ness
rss-penger-polser-og-politikk
rss-fredrik-og-zahid-loser-ingenting
oppdatert
bt-dokumentar-2
rss-borsmorgen-okonominyhetene
chit-chat-med-helle