24 September 2008

A Penny for Your Brilliance.

"Give what you have. To someone, it may be better than you dare to think." Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (1807 - 1882)

Everyone has something to give. And knowledge is a powerful currency.

I spent the last several days at the Small Business Marketing Unleashed conference put on by the amazing (did I mention amazing?) folks at Search Engine Guide. I absolutely love that this event is limited in scale to about 100 people. At that size, you can actually meet and interact with people at a level you just can't do at a Big Business Expo.

A powerful theme emerged on day one, and continued throughout the next several days. And it has huge relevance in the business world.

Left and right, people were giving away their knowledge.

Yes, we paid to go to the conference, but as conferences go, even that was a modest investment. But it wasn't just the sessions where information and knowledge was being shared. It was in the hallways. At the lunch table. On the walk from the conference center to the hotel. Over dinner, drinks, even poolside.

People of all stripes - web marketing, search, social media, branding, marketing, business owners, lawyers, technology folk, social media monitoring, video and podcasting - were all too happy to spend time with one another learning, asking questions, sharing, lending a few words of knowledge or experience. And what happens? Everyone benefits.

It's the have-a-penny-leave-a-penny philosophy of business. You're an expert at something, so leave some knowledge for someone else who needs it. And in return, someone is bound to come along to replace that knowledge with something you needed too.

When you're marketing your business, via traditional or social means, contributing your expertise is one of the most valuable things you can do. An e-book. A white paper. An educational video. Or 30 minutes of your time spent with someone to impart a bit of your vast knowledge. Some friendly advice or insight to a new business owner.

Now, before someone freaks out on me for advocating giving away the "secret sauce", that's not what I'm suggesting. But pieces of it? You bet. No one is going to be able to replicate or replace your business by using your PowerPoint slides. But by teaching and sharing, you are cultivating a sense of ownership and learning in others.

I learned so much from my friends this weekend. I have come away richer for the experience, and hopefully left a little something in the penny jar for someone else. Thank you to you all for your intellectual philanthropy, and making it fun in the meantime.

If you aren't out there sharing what you know with someone who can benefit from just a handful of your expertise, please go pick up the phone or send an email. Right now. I'll be here when you get back, counting my pennies.

image by r-z
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5 comments:

Mack Collier said...

You nailed the essence of why SBMU worked. Everyone was sharing. That helped everyone connect, and made everyone approachable. I went to my first SBMU right after attending SXSW, and the difference was night and day.

Great recap Amber and you being there was part of the reason why SBMU was such a great event!

Jennifer Laycock said...

Amber, I'm so glad you made it to SBMU. It was fantastic to meet you and I'm still a little blown away at how great the show went.

It's a lot of work to put these things together, but it's wonderful to sit back and watch it roll and see where the attendees take it. :)

Now for a quick break before we start the ball rolling again for the spring show! :)

Gavin Heaton said...

Sounds like it was a great event! You are right about sharing ... when you make a gift, you create a relationship with the recipient. This is one of the most powerful personal connection that marketers need to begin to comprehend.

Beth Harte said...

Apologies for the late comment, still digging out from the exhilaration that was SBMU! It was a really great conference and I learned a ton. But more than that, I got to meet some great folks that I only knew on-line (you, Mack, Jennifer) and met a whole bunch of new folks. I am always amazed at the amount of people that openly share their "brilliance." It's amazing and proof that times have changed (i.e. social media, Web 2.0). Collaboration is key to all of our future successes.

Amber Naslund said...

@Mack, Thanks so much. Meeting you and so many of the other great people at SBMU is really the takeaway for me. Those relationships will last a lifetime.

@Jennifer, Kudos are due again to you and your awesome team for a fun, educational event. Can't wait for Houston!

@Gavin you're so right, and I really wish more people shared their knowledge only. It only makes us all better and smarter in the end.

@Beth Times have changed indeed! Does it get any better than learning from others? I know it sounds rather hippy and fluffy, but seriously. So inspirational. And I'm SO glad we've finally had a chance to meet. About time! :)

24 September 2008

A Penny for Your Brilliance.

"Give what you have. To someone, it may be better than you dare to think." Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (1807 - 1882)

Everyone has something to give. And knowledge is a powerful currency.

I spent the last several days at the Small Business Marketing Unleashed conference put on by the amazing (did I mention amazing?) folks at Search Engine Guide. I absolutely love that this event is limited in scale to about 100 people. At that size, you can actually meet and interact with people at a level you just can't do at a Big Business Expo.

A powerful theme emerged on day one, and continued throughout the next several days. And it has huge relevance in the business world.

Left and right, people were giving away their knowledge.

Yes, we paid to go to the conference, but as conferences go, even that was a modest investment. But it wasn't just the sessions where information and knowledge was being shared. It was in the hallways. At the lunch table. On the walk from the conference center to the hotel. Over dinner, drinks, even poolside.

People of all stripes - web marketing, search, social media, branding, marketing, business owners, lawyers, technology folk, social media monitoring, video and podcasting - were all too happy to spend time with one another learning, asking questions, sharing, lending a few words of knowledge or experience. And what happens? Everyone benefits.

It's the have-a-penny-leave-a-penny philosophy of business. You're an expert at something, so leave some knowledge for someone else who needs it. And in return, someone is bound to come along to replace that knowledge with something you needed too.

When you're marketing your business, via traditional or social means, contributing your expertise is one of the most valuable things you can do. An e-book. A white paper. An educational video. Or 30 minutes of your time spent with someone to impart a bit of your vast knowledge. Some friendly advice or insight to a new business owner.

Now, before someone freaks out on me for advocating giving away the "secret sauce", that's not what I'm suggesting. But pieces of it? You bet. No one is going to be able to replicate or replace your business by using your PowerPoint slides. But by teaching and sharing, you are cultivating a sense of ownership and learning in others.

I learned so much from my friends this weekend. I have come away richer for the experience, and hopefully left a little something in the penny jar for someone else. Thank you to you all for your intellectual philanthropy, and making it fun in the meantime.

If you aren't out there sharing what you know with someone who can benefit from just a handful of your expertise, please go pick up the phone or send an email. Right now. I'll be here when you get back, counting my pennies.

image by r-z
Reblog this post [with Zemanta]

5 comments:

Mack Collier said...

You nailed the essence of why SBMU worked. Everyone was sharing. That helped everyone connect, and made everyone approachable. I went to my first SBMU right after attending SXSW, and the difference was night and day.

Great recap Amber and you being there was part of the reason why SBMU was such a great event!

Jennifer Laycock said...

Amber, I'm so glad you made it to SBMU. It was fantastic to meet you and I'm still a little blown away at how great the show went.

It's a lot of work to put these things together, but it's wonderful to sit back and watch it roll and see where the attendees take it. :)

Now for a quick break before we start the ball rolling again for the spring show! :)

Gavin Heaton said...

Sounds like it was a great event! You are right about sharing ... when you make a gift, you create a relationship with the recipient. This is one of the most powerful personal connection that marketers need to begin to comprehend.

Beth Harte said...

Apologies for the late comment, still digging out from the exhilaration that was SBMU! It was a really great conference and I learned a ton. But more than that, I got to meet some great folks that I only knew on-line (you, Mack, Jennifer) and met a whole bunch of new folks. I am always amazed at the amount of people that openly share their "brilliance." It's amazing and proof that times have changed (i.e. social media, Web 2.0). Collaboration is key to all of our future successes.

Amber Naslund said...

@Mack, Thanks so much. Meeting you and so many of the other great people at SBMU is really the takeaway for me. Those relationships will last a lifetime.

@Jennifer, Kudos are due again to you and your awesome team for a fun, educational event. Can't wait for Houston!

@Gavin you're so right, and I really wish more people shared their knowledge only. It only makes us all better and smarter in the end.

@Beth Times have changed indeed! Does it get any better than learning from others? I know it sounds rather hippy and fluffy, but seriously. So inspirational. And I'm SO glad we've finally had a chance to meet. About time! :)

24 September 2008

A Penny for Your Brilliance.

"Give what you have. To someone, it may be better than you dare to think." Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (1807 - 1882)

Everyone has something to give. And knowledge is a powerful currency.

I spent the last several days at the Small Business Marketing Unleashed conference put on by the amazing (did I mention amazing?) folks at Search Engine Guide. I absolutely love that this event is limited in scale to about 100 people. At that size, you can actually meet and interact with people at a level you just can't do at a Big Business Expo.

A powerful theme emerged on day one, and continued throughout the next several days. And it has huge relevance in the business world.

Left and right, people were giving away their knowledge.

Yes, we paid to go to the conference, but as conferences go, even that was a modest investment. But it wasn't just the sessions where information and knowledge was being shared. It was in the hallways. At the lunch table. On the walk from the conference center to the hotel. Over dinner, drinks, even poolside.

People of all stripes - web marketing, search, social media, branding, marketing, business owners, lawyers, technology folk, social media monitoring, video and podcasting - were all too happy to spend time with one another learning, asking questions, sharing, lending a few words of knowledge or experience. And what happens? Everyone benefits.

It's the have-a-penny-leave-a-penny philosophy of business. You're an expert at something, so leave some knowledge for someone else who needs it. And in return, someone is bound to come along to replace that knowledge with something you needed too.

When you're marketing your business, via traditional or social means, contributing your expertise is one of the most valuable things you can do. An e-book. A white paper. An educational video. Or 30 minutes of your time spent with someone to impart a bit of your vast knowledge. Some friendly advice or insight to a new business owner.

Now, before someone freaks out on me for advocating giving away the "secret sauce", that's not what I'm suggesting. But pieces of it? You bet. No one is going to be able to replicate or replace your business by using your PowerPoint slides. But by teaching and sharing, you are cultivating a sense of ownership and learning in others.

I learned so much from my friends this weekend. I have come away richer for the experience, and hopefully left a little something in the penny jar for someone else. Thank you to you all for your intellectual philanthropy, and making it fun in the meantime.

If you aren't out there sharing what you know with someone who can benefit from just a handful of your expertise, please go pick up the phone or send an email. Right now. I'll be here when you get back, counting my pennies.

image by r-z
Reblog this post [with Zemanta]

5 comments:

Mack Collier said...

You nailed the essence of why SBMU worked. Everyone was sharing. That helped everyone connect, and made everyone approachable. I went to my first SBMU right after attending SXSW, and the difference was night and day.

Great recap Amber and you being there was part of the reason why SBMU was such a great event!

Jennifer Laycock said...

Amber, I'm so glad you made it to SBMU. It was fantastic to meet you and I'm still a little blown away at how great the show went.

It's a lot of work to put these things together, but it's wonderful to sit back and watch it roll and see where the attendees take it. :)

Now for a quick break before we start the ball rolling again for the spring show! :)

Gavin Heaton said...

Sounds like it was a great event! You are right about sharing ... when you make a gift, you create a relationship with the recipient. This is one of the most powerful personal connection that marketers need to begin to comprehend.

Beth Harte said...

Apologies for the late comment, still digging out from the exhilaration that was SBMU! It was a really great conference and I learned a ton. But more than that, I got to meet some great folks that I only knew on-line (you, Mack, Jennifer) and met a whole bunch of new folks. I am always amazed at the amount of people that openly share their "brilliance." It's amazing and proof that times have changed (i.e. social media, Web 2.0). Collaboration is key to all of our future successes.

Amber Naslund said...

@Mack, Thanks so much. Meeting you and so many of the other great people at SBMU is really the takeaway for me. Those relationships will last a lifetime.

@Jennifer, Kudos are due again to you and your awesome team for a fun, educational event. Can't wait for Houston!

@Gavin you're so right, and I really wish more people shared their knowledge only. It only makes us all better and smarter in the end.

@Beth Times have changed indeed! Does it get any better than learning from others? I know it sounds rather hippy and fluffy, but seriously. So inspirational. And I'm SO glad we've finally had a chance to meet. About time! :)