There are basic human motivators that encourage us to perform all tasks, every single day. Humans either want to feel smart, successful, and socially valued, or want to be the best at what they do and change the world. The most successful products are developed with these common motivators in mind. A company’s management team should constantly research to understand what could improve their engagement (their relationship with community and staff.) Unless a company has been living under a rock for the last few years, they will know gamification strategies are skyrocketing in the business world and can certainly benefit employee relations as well as customer engagement.

Gamification is a speedy, effective, and fun way to train and motivate employees.

What is Gamification?

Gamification is the application of game elements and digital game design techniques to non-game problems, such as business and social impact challenges. Catherine Clifford, Entrepreneur Staff, declares that gamification is the business equivalent of “mixing broccoli into mac and cheese. It’s a way of making predictable, boring workplace tasks more engaging for employees and customers.”

It’s more than just awarding badges and leaderboard placement; it requires a company to thoughtfully understand motivation and tactics. With video games remaining popular even as technology evolves, businesses realize they can be utilized as powerful tools for motivating behavior, tracking demographics, and increasing social sales. Effective games influence both psychology and skill in ways that can leave an impression on the external environment. Organizations apply it in areas such as marketing, human resources, productivity enhancement, sustainability, training, health and wellness, innovation, and customer engagement.

Gamification and Employees

In its relatively short existence, gamification has proven itself to be a successful tool in improving companies’ employee engagement. According to Gallup Employee Engagement Index, the average 1,000 agent contact center loses $2 million per year due to disengaged employees. Businesses who have made an effort to reverse that statistic with the use of gamification have had great success. Companies that use gamification have reduced on-boarding or training time up to 90%, increased employee skills by more than 70%, and retained their top talent by 78%. If businesses aren’t yet convinced that gamification is worth the hassle, here are five more reasons gamification is sure to improve employee engagement.

Growing Their Expertise

Humans have functions in the brain that freely work toward problem solving. Gaming takes this natural process and makes it fun and rewarding. Games normally require the player to retain information, rules, and procedures as well as make judgments and work toward certain outcomes. Knowledge retention is a big part of an employee’s daily life, especially while dealing with customers, so implementing the most effective methods of learning isn’t just important for the employee, it’s essential to an organization’s success. Jeanne Meister, author of Corporate Universities, states that “interactive learning games can increase long-term retention rates by up to 10 times—a significant statistic when considering knowledge retention.” Retaining information is a skill that is obtained with practice. With gamification, practicing is a fun and enjoyable way to broaden an employee’s knowledge base.

Actively Gauging Performance

Annual evaluations are an essential way for employees to discover what areas they need to improve and help managers understand what aspects of the job their employees struggle with. Leaders increasingly find that employees perform better, learn more quickly, and resolve their incorrect behaviors when they receive immediate, real-time feedback. Gaming offers an instant cause and effect as well as a real-time report of accomplishments or defeats. If an employee makes a wrong choice in a game, the individual will be immediately corrected before being able to move forward. If the employee makes a deliberate, smart move, he or she will receive immediate positive reinforcement in the form of badges, points, leveling up, or unlocking certain achievements.

It fosters transparent information regarding employees’ performance. Imagine if all businesses used gamification to streamline that information so employees could know exactly how their skills are advancing or diminishing instead of wondering where they really stand. In 2007, IBM generated a game for their employees called Innov8. It gave IT and business players a better understanding of how their success in their specific line of work could impact their entire business ecosystem. At its core, Innov8 was created to help people work smarter so they can help build a smarter planet. Because Innov8 is a real-time game, employees quickly saw how their personal practical process improvements can help meet profitability, customer satisfaction, and environmental goals while addressing real problems businesses face.

Boosting Achievement

Companies spend thousands of dollars annually sending their employees to seminars, conferences, and targeted development sessions. Displaying accomplishments of a business’ employees can go further than certificates, learning achievement plagues, and LinkedIn accounts. People enjoy competition. And they like to win and receive validation regarding their skill. Competition is prevalent, especially in the workplace. Competition for a promotion, a raise, and a sale are just a few examples of competition that can get out of hand and nasty in a hurry. These situations may also lead to a hostile work environment and disengaged employees. That’s why a controlled competitive game can be so useful in the workplace.

A game where employees feel they are learning, being awarded for doing the right things, and being noticed for their hard work is a prime example of friendly and healthy competition. There’s little to no room for employees to be angry over a game in which they can easily put forth more effort. In addition to encouraging a climate of entertaining, laidback improvement, allowing employees to become skilled in their particular roles at a business, and openly recognizing their accomplishments will facilitate even more development and ultimately help a business meet its goals.

Connecting with Others

Most people appreciate a sense of community and social interaction in the workplace. Team building doesn’t always have to be getting together after work to go to happy hour, playing kickball, or going to a karaoke bar on the weekend. People want to feel connected to their co-workers. They want to be able to count on them as well as help them through problems of their own instead of feeling detached. What drives loyalty and comradery is not giving away free stuff, but status and recognition. Gamification creates a virtual world where employees can be productive and still have a good time, side-by-side. Incorporating fun into the workplace makes for a thriving business because it fosters productivity, thus creating an enhanced work environment.

Encouraging Innovation

Many companies are beginning to embrace gamification as a way to encourage innovation and inspire new ideas among their employees. At a 2012 Consumerization of IT in the Enterprise conference, Zichermann described the crowd-sourcing game Foldit, developed by the University of Washington. In 2011, the structure of a key protein that scientists believe may help cure HIV was discovered. Scientists had been working on the problem for 15 years and in just 10 days, 46,000 people using Foldit discovered a possible solution.3 Many companies may not be trying to cure a deadly disease, but nurturing innovation in the workplace can mean life or death in today’s marketplace.3 Highlighting all kinds of progress within a business fosters a productive work environment, improves knowledge, and keeps a company in business. Times are changing and if businesses aren’t willing to adapt to the constantly changing needs of the market, they won’t last, especially if their top competitors quickly adjust to consumers’ preferences.

In all cases, gamification seems to be working. By taking business processes such as compliance training and converting it into participatory, competitive games, employees tend to be more receptive to tasks that need to be done anyway. If businesses are committed to rewarding employees for a job well done, employees start getting better at their jobs. It’s as simple as that.

1 https://www.salesforce.com/blog/2014/12/supercharge-your-customer-success-team-with-gamification-gp.html

2 http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/235876

3 http://ww.w.cedma-europe.org/newsletter%20articles/Clomedia/Five%20reasons%20you%20Cannot

There are basic human motivators that encourage us to perform all tasks, every single day. Humans either want to feel smart, successful, and socially valued, or want to be the best at what they do and change the world. The most successful products are developed with these common motivators in mind. A company’s management team should constantly research to understand what could improve their engagement (their relationship with community and staff.) Unless a company has been living under a rock for the last few years, they will know gamification strategies are skyrocketing in the business world and can certainly benefit employee relations as well as customer engagement.

Gamification is a speedy, effective, and fun way to train and motivate employees.

What is Gamification?

Gamification is the application of game elements and digital game design techniques to non-game problems, such as business and social impact challenges. Catherine Clifford, Entrepreneur Staff, declares that gamification is the business equivalent of “mixing broccoli into mac and cheese. It’s a way of making predictable, boring workplace tasks more engaging for employees and customers.”

It’s more than just awarding badges and leaderboard placement; it requires a company to thoughtfully understand motivation and tactics. With video games remaining popular even as technology evolves, businesses realize they can be utilized as powerful tools for motivating behavior, tracking demographics, and increasing social sales. Effective games influence both psychology and skill in ways that can leave an impression on the external environment. Organizations apply it in areas such as marketing, human resources, productivity enhancement, sustainability, training, health and wellness, innovation, and customer engagement.

Gamification and Employees

In its relatively short existence, gamification has proven itself to be a successful tool in improving companies’ employee engagement. According to Gallup Employee Engagement Index, the average 1,000 agent contact center loses $2 million per year due to disengaged employees. Businesses who have made an effort to reverse that statistic with the use of gamification have had great success. Companies that use gamification have reduced on-boarding or training time up to 90%, increased employee skills by more than 70%, and retained their top talent by 78%. If businesses aren’t yet convinced that gamification is worth the hassle, here are five more reasons gamification is sure to improve employee engagement.

Growing Their Expertise

Humans have functions in the brain that freely work toward problem solving. Gaming takes this natural process and makes it fun and rewarding. Games normally require the player to retain information, rules, and procedures as well as make judgments and work toward certain outcomes. Knowledge retention is a big part of an employee’s daily life, especially while dealing with customers, so implementing the most effective methods of learning isn’t just important for the employee, it’s essential to an organization’s success. Jeanne Meister, author of Corporate Universities, states that “interactive learning games can increase long-term retention rates by up to 10 times—a significant statistic when considering knowledge retention.” Retaining information is a skill that is obtained with practice. With gamification, practicing is a fun and enjoyable way to broaden an employee’s knowledge base.

Actively Gauging Performance

Annual evaluations are an essential way for employees to discover what areas they need to improve and help managers understand what aspects of the job their employees struggle with. Leaders increasingly find that employees perform better, learn more quickly, and resolve their incorrect behaviors when they receive immediate, real-time feedback. Gaming offers an instant cause and effect as well as a real-time report of accomplishments or defeats. If an employee makes a wrong choice in a game, the individual will be immediately corrected before being able to move forward. If the employee makes a deliberate, smart move, he or she will receive immediate positive reinforcement in the form of badges, points, leveling up, or unlocking certain achievements.

It fosters transparent information regarding employees’ performance. Imagine if all businesses used gamification to streamline that information so employees could know exactly how their skills are advancing or diminishing instead of wondering where they really stand. In 2007, IBM generated a game for their employees called Innov8. It gave IT and business players a better understanding of how their success in their specific line of work could impact their entire business ecosystem. At its core, Innov8 was created to help people work smarter so they can help build a smarter planet. Because Innov8 is a real-time game, employees quickly saw how their personal practical process improvements can help meet profitability, customer satisfaction, and environmental goals while addressing real problems businesses face.

Boosting Achievement

Companies spend thousands of dollars annually sending their employees to seminars, conferences, and targeted development sessions. Displaying accomplishments of a business’ employees can go further than certificates, learning achievement plagues, and LinkedIn accounts. People enjoy competition. And they like to win and receive validation regarding their skill. Competition is prevalent, especially in the workplace. Competition for a promotion, a raise, and a sale are just a few examples of competition that can get out of hand and nasty in a hurry. These situations may also lead to a hostile work environment and disengaged employees. That’s why a controlled competitive game can be so useful in the workplace.

A game where employees feel they are learning, being awarded for doing the right things, and being noticed for their hard work is a prime example of friendly and healthy competition. There’s little to no room for employees to be angry over a game in which they can easily put forth more effort. In addition to encouraging a climate of entertaining, laidback improvement, allowing employees to become skilled in their particular roles at a business, and openly recognizing their accomplishments will facilitate even more development and ultimately help a business meet its goals.

Connecting with Others

Most people appreciate a sense of community and social interaction in the workplace. Team building doesn’t always have to be getting together after work to go to happy hour, playing kickball, or going to a karaoke bar on the weekend. People want to feel connected to their co-workers. They want to be able to count on them as well as help them through problems of their own instead of feeling detached. What drives loyalty and comradery is not giving away free stuff, but status and recognition. Gamification creates a virtual world where employees can be productive and still have a good time, side-by-side. Incorporating fun into the workplace makes for a thriving business because it fosters productivity, thus creating an enhanced work environment.

Encouraging Innovation

Many companies are beginning to embrace gamification as a way to encourage innovation and inspire new ideas among their employees. At a 2012 Consumerization of IT in the Enterprise conference, Zichermann described the crowd-sourcing game Foldit, developed by the University of Washington. In 2011, the structure of a key protein that scientists believe may help cure HIV was discovered. Scientists had been working on the problem for 15 years and in just 10 days, 46,000 people using Foldit discovered a possible solution.3 Many companies may not be trying to cure a deadly disease, but nurturing innovation in the workplace can mean life or death in today’s marketplace.3 Highlighting all kinds of progress within a business fosters a productive work environment, improves knowledge, and keeps a company in business. Times are changing and if businesses aren’t willing to adapt to the constantly changing needs of the market, they won’t last, especially if their top competitors quickly adjust to consumers’ preferences.

In all cases, gamification seems to be working. By taking business processes such as compliance training and converting it into participatory, competitive games, employees tend to be more receptive to tasks that need to be done anyway. If businesses are committed to rewarding employees for a job well done, employees start getting better at their jobs. It’s as simple as that.

1 https://www.salesforce.com/blog/2014/12/supercharge-your-customer-success-team-with-gamification-gp.html

2 http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/235876

3 http://ww.w.cedma-europe.org/newsletter%20articles/Clomedia/Five%20reasons%20you%20Cannot

News for the Week of August 31

Guest Blogger today: Kristin Huntley, Director of Content and Marketing

You Don’t Have to Be Square!  Thanks Instagram!

This week, Instagram announced they are expanding their format to allow for portrait and landscape photos and videos, as well as the traditional square posts users are accustomed to. Instagram stated that one in five posts shared is not in square format, prompting this update in order to make posting easier and more fun for all users. To maintain its clean grid feel, posts will appear as center-cropped squares. For video formats on Instagram, this newest update allows for an even more cinematic experience than ever before. Dealerships can now take advantage of panoramic views to display all of the curves and features of their vehicles, or showcase more inventory for consumers.

Clipping on LinkedIn/SlideShare

LinkedIn and SlideShare recognized the fact that it’s difficult to keep track of all the content that’s available today; but now users can keep everything organized in topic-based clibboards. Clipping make it easy to clip, save and share the content you want in Evernote, or right on your profile to view and share now or later. Dealerships with an active LinkedIn presence should take advantage of this feature to build a library of useful information for every area of their dealership.   

LinkedIn eBook, 10 Ways to Drive Killer ROI with your Sponsored Updates

LinkedIn is offering their new eBook as a brand-new resource for those looking to improve ROI. Citing brands that are succeeding in the marketplace today and giving real-world examples of ways you can succeed by tailoring content that speaks directly to your audience, creating effective campaigns, and extending the life of already-existing content, this new eBook is a valuable tool that helps businesses take their marketing efforts to the next level and reach even more consumers.Facebook page managers will gain valuable insights for marketing via LinkedIn with a behind the scenes look at the successful strategies of more than 200 top brands.

Facebook Admin’s Guide to Page Messaging

Users can now find Facebook’s new admin's guide to using page messaging, which helps users connect with people when it comes to everything from customer service to product questions. The admin’s guide includes step-by-step recommendations for using Pages most effectively, as well as new and upgraded features. Recommendations are included for admins handling messaging and saved replies, and admins are now able to reply privately to sensitive questions. For dealerships interacting with consumers and participating in online platforms, leveraging all of Facebook’s features to authentically connect with consumers is a smart move. Take difficult conversations offline, and when possible, use your Facebook presence to build trust with transparent communication.

Facebook Video Rights Management Tools Updated

Video creators now have more say when it comes to how their videos are shared on Facebook. With newly-updated cideo rights management tools, the social media giant is meeting the upsurge in recent video with much-needed tools that empower users and give them control, thereby cutting down on “freebooting,” or other users uploading their videos to Facebook without their permission. This protection goes into place to benefit video creators and ensure those who have worked to create the content end up getting credit for their creations. Alternately, Facebook’s IP policies ensure posters who repeatedly post content without permission will be held responsible for their actions. Dealerships and individuals alike are now able to protect their original content.  Facebook is committed to ensuring that only users with permissions are able to post video content to your page, and that no one else can claim ownership of your hard work.

Facebook Adds “Donate Now” Button

Facebook for Business has added a new "Donate Now" call-to-action button, providing an even easier way for brands to connect with individuals who share an interest in the same causes. Brands that support a specific nonprofit can now encourage customers to join the cause with the “Donate Now” button that appears on both link ads and Pages. The Facebook Help Center can help you get started. Dealerships are leaders in supporting their communities and nonprofits. This new feature is an indirect reminder of the work they’re doing, and one more way your dealership can give back.

Facebook Moments App

Facebook Moments has been updated for iOS and Android and can automatically “create a video of your shared photos which you can customize, personalize and share back to Facebook.” Available in many countries, it has also now been translated to 34 languages, making it a user-friendly, universal app and a fun way to turn collected photos into music videos. Once an automatic video compilation has been made, users have the opportunity to customize by selecting from a variety of music backgrounds. Dealerships can now customize and personalize Facebook Moments videos and engage more consumers in a meaningful way.

Tip of the Week—Think Like a Customer to Win at Mobile

It’s not a stretch to say just about everyone knows mobile is where it’s at right now. That said, having a responsive, mobile-friendly website isn’t enough to capture the market anymore. Want to sell more cars via mobile?  Here are some tips designed to supercharge your mobile success:

• Think Like a Customer. Don’t just guess what the customer wants; instead place yourself in the position of a customer and deliver the customer experience you’d like to have.

• Offer valuable communication. The value of communication lies not in its frequency, but instead in its quality and the consumer need it meets. Overwhelming consumers with messages they don’t care about will drive them to your competitors. Instead of overselling, provide engaging content that answers questions consumers ask, and captures buyers early in the sales cycle.  Reduced foot traffic in the showroom means your customers begin their shopping journey online.  Make sure you’re leveraging the latest technology to give your self the competitive edge this market demands.

• Market Smarter. Take advantage of emerging technology to market intelligently to your consumer. You don’t need to guess what your consumers want.  We are able to identify exactly what your consumer cares about, and answer the questions they are asking, well before you lose them to a competitor.

Mobile is not just a trend; with more and more consumers relying on mobile devices for shopping, research, and daily social interactions, your dealership must know how to leverage data insights to capture more in-market shoppers as early as possible.  Today’s consumer demands a more efficient purchase cycle.  How easy is it for you to capture in-market buyers via mobile?  A recent study by Internet Retailer revealed that are 71% more likely to be influenced by digital advertising across multiple retail categories than the average consumer.   And a new Edmunds study identified the top five behaviors of automotive mobile shoppers:

News for the Week of August 31

Guest Blogger today: Kristin Huntley, Director of Content and Marketing

You Don’t Have to Be Square!  Thanks Instagram!

This week, Instagram announced they are expanding their format to allow for portrait and landscape photos and videos, as well as the traditional square posts users are accustomed to. Instagram stated that one in five posts shared is not in square format, prompting this update in order to make posting easier and more fun for all users. To maintain its clean grid feel, posts will appear as center-cropped squares. For video formats on Instagram, this newest update allows for an even more cinematic experience than ever before. Dealerships can now take advantage of panoramic views to display all of the curves and features of their vehicles, or showcase more inventory for consumers.

Clipping on LinkedIn/SlideShare

LinkedIn and SlideShare recognized the fact that it’s difficult to keep track of all the content that’s available today; but now users can keep everything organized in topic-based clibboards. Clipping make it easy to clip, save and share the content you want in Evernote, or right on your profile to view and share now or later. Dealerships with an active LinkedIn presence should take advantage of this feature to build a library of useful information for every area of their dealership.   

LinkedIn eBook, 10 Ways to Drive Killer ROI with your Sponsored Updates

LinkedIn is offering their new eBook as a brand-new resource for those looking to improve ROI. Citing brands that are succeeding in the marketplace today and giving real-world examples of ways you can succeed by tailoring content that speaks directly to your audience, creating effective campaigns, and extending the life of already-existing content, this new eBook is a valuable tool that helps businesses take their marketing efforts to the next level and reach even more consumers.Facebook page managers will gain valuable insights for marketing via LinkedIn with a behind the scenes look at the successful strategies of more than 200 top brands.

Facebook Admin’s Guide to Page Messaging

Users can now find Facebook’s new admin's guide to using page messaging, which helps users connect with people when it comes to everything from customer service to product questions. The admin’s guide includes step-by-step recommendations for using Pages most effectively, as well as new and upgraded features. Recommendations are included for admins handling messaging and saved replies, and admins are now able to reply privately to sensitive questions. For dealerships interacting with consumers and participating in online platforms, leveraging all of Facebook’s features to authentically connect with consumers is a smart move. Take difficult conversations offline, and when possible, use your Facebook presence to build trust with transparent communication.

Facebook Video Rights Management Tools Updated

Video creators now have more say when it comes to how their videos are shared on Facebook. With newly-updated cideo rights management tools, the social media giant is meeting the upsurge in recent video with much-needed tools that empower users and give them control, thereby cutting down on “freebooting,” or other users uploading their videos to Facebook without their permission. This protection goes into place to benefit video creators and ensure those who have worked to create the content end up getting credit for their creations. Alternately, Facebook’s IP policies ensure posters who repeatedly post content without permission will be held responsible for their actions. Dealerships and individuals alike are now able to protect their original content.  Facebook is committed to ensuring that only users with permissions are able to post video content to your page, and that no one else can claim ownership of your hard work.

Facebook Adds “Donate Now” Button

Facebook for Business has added a new "Donate Now" call-to-action button, providing an even easier way for brands to connect with individuals who share an interest in the same causes. Brands that support a specific nonprofit can now encourage customers to join the cause with the “Donate Now” button that appears on both link ads and Pages. The Facebook Help Center can help you get started. Dealerships are leaders in supporting their communities and nonprofits. This new feature is an indirect reminder of the work they’re doing, and one more way your dealership can give back.

Facebook Moments App

Facebook Moments has been updated for iOS and Android and can automatically “create a video of your shared photos which you can customize, personalize and share back to Facebook.” Available in many countries, it has also now been translated to 34 languages, making it a user-friendly, universal app and a fun way to turn collected photos into music videos. Once an automatic video compilation has been made, users have the opportunity to customize by selecting from a variety of music backgrounds. Dealerships can now customize and personalize Facebook Moments videos and engage more consumers in a meaningful way.

Tip of the Week—Think Like a Customer to Win at Mobile

It’s not a stretch to say just about everyone knows mobile is where it’s at right now. That said, having a responsive, mobile-friendly website isn’t enough to capture the market anymore. Want to sell more cars via mobile?  Here are some tips designed to supercharge your mobile success:

• Think Like a Customer. Don’t just guess what the customer wants; instead place yourself in the position of a customer and deliver the customer experience you’d like to have.

• Offer valuable communication. The value of communication lies not in its frequency, but instead in its quality and the consumer need it meets. Overwhelming consumers with messages they don’t care about will drive them to your competitors. Instead of overselling, provide engaging content that answers questions consumers ask, and captures buyers early in the sales cycle.  Reduced foot traffic in the showroom means your customers begin their shopping journey online.  Make sure you’re leveraging the latest technology to give your self the competitive edge this market demands.

• Market Smarter. Take advantage of emerging technology to market intelligently to your consumer. You don’t need to guess what your consumers want.  We are able to identify exactly what your consumer cares about, and answer the questions they are asking, well before you lose them to a competitor.

Mobile is not just a trend; with more and more consumers relying on mobile devices for shopping, research, and daily social interactions, your dealership must know how to leverage data insights to capture more in-market shoppers as early as possible.  Today’s consumer demands a more efficient purchase cycle.  How easy is it for you to capture in-market buyers via mobile?  A recent study by Internet Retailer revealed that are 71% more likely to be influenced by digital advertising across multiple retail categories than the average consumer.   And a new Edmunds study identified the top five behaviors of automotive mobile shoppers:

What are the ways I sabotage myself? [Getting honest]

Here’s some honest for you. I avoided writing this post because I’ve been going through a lot of change over the past 4 years and I’m tired. I crave the blissful ignorance of imagining I don’t have any major blind spots at the moment. I want to not knowwhat I need to work on for a hot second…but that is not the path I’ve committed myself to, and it’s not the path to growth or success. I’m all in on becoming the best version of myself and there’s no turning back. So who’s with me?  Let’s get started.

Ch-ch-ch-Changes

I said it in my session, and I will say it again…there is only one thing every woman who wants to be successful must fully commit herself to, and that is embracing change. Change is really the only constant in life. And change requires focused mental, emotional and spiritual energy…in other words STRESS. I know it’s very 21st century to seek opportunities to de-stress, but without stress we don’t grow.

There is a purpose to some kinds of pain, so one of the biggest ways we sabotage ourselves happens when we expend the energy we need to change, looking for ways to numb out and ease our pain. We have a drink, take an Advil, say yes when we mean no, give in and feel frustrated and resentful…the list goes on and on. Instead of the pause we ought to give ourselves that would enable us to respond in new ways, we do what we’ve always done, or what we need to do not to feel bad.

And before you decide you’ve got this nailed, understand that self-sabotage is an equal opportunity intruder. It worms its way in when you least expect it, and afflicts even those who don’t struggle with low self-esteem or lack confidence. In fact,thinking you can outsmart self-sabotage is the first step to succumbing to its insidiousness. Let me explain.

I have learned [from a friend of course] that even the most self-aware woman can be blinded to their own bent toward self-sabotage.  We refer to the ways we sabotage ourselves as bad habits or poor life choices, and look for quick fixes to get back on track. We avoid healthy confrontation, or responding to difficult requests and chalk it up to procrastination or lack of good time management. Perfectionism gets the blame when we put off starting new projects, and interruptions are why we can’t focus long enough to do the thing we need to do. And all of these reasons have a ring of truth, but our solutions often only scratch the surface of our need.

Getting Honest Rocks…You’ll See

Getting honest is the doorway to freedom from the tyranny of self-sabotage. Because, what if all of my bad habits that need fixing are really just saboteurs, keeping me from the success I deserve? What if by avoiding confrontation I’m reinforcing the core belief that my perspective isn’t important, or my thoughts and feelings matter less than others’? What if my avoidance in starting new projects is really rooted in believing I’m not worthy of success, and has nothing to do with managing my time better? What if my lack of focus has more to do with my inability to face the pain of [insert the thing] that stands in the way of my success? What if instead of getting a new plan, getting more organized or telling myself to try harder, what I really need is to be kind to myself? Forgive myself? Give myself permission to fail, to want, to start over?

The Physics of the Quest

I didn’t get to show you the last clip of my session because we were having so much fun, I ran out of time. But this clip, and the quote from Eat, Pray, Love sum up what I believe is the attitude of a woman determined to live in the light of truth. (Check out our blog to see the video)

Check your email inbox, or email me for a copy the quote to print out and put somewhere you’ll be sure to see it. [The background is a photo I took one morning when I was hiking at dawn, bravely trying to face some of my own truth and struggling.]

So here’s your homework, because you knew you’d have some!  Answer these questions [yes, honestly]:

1. What is one thing I’m avoiding, and what story am I telling myself about that?
2. What are the false beliefs about others or myself that might be sabotaging me in this particular situation?
3. What are the strengths I’ve identified in myself that I can use to move forward? What is the truth I need to tell myself?
4. If my daughter or my best friend came to me about this, what advice would I give her? Is it the same advice I give myself?
5. Write a letter to yourself.  Tell yourself the new, honest story about what’s holding you back, and give yourself the words you need to hear to be brave.

Thank you for being on this journey with me.  If you’d like to receive extra resources, links, etc, please email me and I’ll add you to my life coach list!  And either way, I’dappreciate it if you’d tweet me and/or comment to let me know you’re reading.  I appreciate each and every one of you!

#StrongerTogether,

Kristin

What are the ways I sabotage myself? [Getting honest]

Here’s some honest for you. I avoided writing this post because I’ve been going through a lot of change over the past 4 years and I’m tired. I crave the blissful ignorance of imagining I don’t have any major blind spots at the moment. I want to not knowwhat I need to work on for a hot second…but that is not the path I’ve committed myself to, and it’s not the path to growth or success. I’m all in on becoming the best version of myself and there’s no turning back. So who’s with me?  Let’s get started.

Ch-ch-ch-Changes

I said it in my session, and I will say it again…there is only one thing every woman who wants to be successful must fully commit herself to, and that is embracing change. Change is really the only constant in life. And change requires focused mental, emotional and spiritual energy…in other words STRESS. I know it’s very 21st century to seek opportunities to de-stress, but without stress we don’t grow.

There is a purpose to some kinds of pain, so one of the biggest ways we sabotage ourselves happens when we expend the energy we need to change, looking for ways to numb out and ease our pain. We have a drink, take an Advil, say yes when we mean no, give in and feel frustrated and resentful…the list goes on and on. Instead of the pause we ought to give ourselves that would enable us to respond in new ways, we do what we’ve always done, or what we need to do not to feel bad.

And before you decide you’ve got this nailed, understand that self-sabotage is an equal opportunity intruder. It worms its way in when you least expect it, and afflicts even those who don’t struggle with low self-esteem or lack confidence. In fact,thinking you can outsmart self-sabotage is the first step to succumbing to its insidiousness. Let me explain.

I have learned [from a friend of course] that even the most self-aware woman can be blinded to their own bent toward self-sabotage.  We refer to the ways we sabotage ourselves as bad habits or poor life choices, and look for quick fixes to get back on track. We avoid healthy confrontation, or responding to difficult requests and chalk it up to procrastination or lack of good time management. Perfectionism gets the blame when we put off starting new projects, and interruptions are why we can’t focus long enough to do the thing we need to do. And all of these reasons have a ring of truth, but our solutions often only scratch the surface of our need.

Getting Honest Rocks…You’ll See

Getting honest is the doorway to freedom from the tyranny of self-sabotage. Because, what if all of my bad habits that need fixing are really just saboteurs, keeping me from the success I deserve? What if by avoiding confrontation I’m reinforcing the core belief that my perspective isn’t important, or my thoughts and feelings matter less than others’? What if my avoidance in starting new projects is really rooted in believing I’m not worthy of success, and has nothing to do with managing my time better? What if my lack of focus has more to do with my inability to face the pain of [insert the thing] that stands in the way of my success? What if instead of getting a new plan, getting more organized or telling myself to try harder, what I really need is to be kind to myself? Forgive myself? Give myself permission to fail, to want, to start over?

The Physics of the Quest

I didn’t get to show you the last clip of my session because we were having so much fun, I ran out of time. But this clip, and the quote from Eat, Pray, Love sum up what I believe is the attitude of a woman determined to live in the light of truth. (Check out our blog to see the video)

Check your email inbox, or email me for a copy the quote to print out and put somewhere you’ll be sure to see it. [The background is a photo I took one morning when I was hiking at dawn, bravely trying to face some of my own truth and struggling.]

So here’s your homework, because you knew you’d have some!  Answer these questions [yes, honestly]:

1. What is one thing I’m avoiding, and what story am I telling myself about that?
2. What are the false beliefs about others or myself that might be sabotaging me in this particular situation?
3. What are the strengths I’ve identified in myself that I can use to move forward? What is the truth I need to tell myself?
4. If my daughter or my best friend came to me about this, what advice would I give her? Is it the same advice I give myself?
5. Write a letter to yourself.  Tell yourself the new, honest story about what’s holding you back, and give yourself the words you need to hear to be brave.

Thank you for being on this journey with me.  If you’d like to receive extra resources, links, etc, please email me and I’ll add you to my life coach list!  And either way, I’dappreciate it if you’d tweet me and/or comment to let me know you’re reading.  I appreciate each and every one of you!

#StrongerTogether,

Kristin

Defining and Attracting Your Mobile Consumer

More people in the world own smartphones than toothbrushes, so if your dealership isn’t already taking notice of the impact mobile marketing has on today’s shoppers, it’s time to sharpen the focus and zero in on how technology and convenience are changing the way consumers are shopping.  Businesses across the globe know that adapting and changing along with consumers is key when it comes to being successful, and everyone knows that today’s market is fast-moving and continually changing.  In order to compete and grab the attention of potential customers, you’ll need to reach them where they are shopping and researching—and the statistics tell us shoppers are increasingly using their mobile devices to help them with both purchases and pre-purchase research.

Why Go Mobile?

Before we get into the details of how to define your mobile audience, let’s take a quick look at the reasons mobile marketing makes sense for a busy dealership.  By going mobile to reach consumers, you’ll be able to target a specific audience with more accuracy, allowing you to deliver a more personalized message to various groups.  Not only will you be able to target specific consumer groups via mobile marketing, you’ll also have the opportunity to reach out and develop two-way communication, encouraging shoppers to interact with you via your marketing campaigns.  Mobile users tend to carry their devices with them most of the time, allowing more opportunity for your marketing to reach them in real-time.  For these very reasons—and simply because today’s consumers feel at home and comfortable with mobile communication, shopping, and research—your dealership will benefit from implementing a mobile marketing plan.

The importance of mobile has never been clearer than it is right now.  In fact, during the past holiday season, Target reported that 60% of its traffic for the months of November and December came from mobile devices.  This past year also showed Black Friday purchases via mobile coming in at double what they were the previous year for the retailer, and mobile doesn’t appear to be slowing down anytime soon.  

Defining Your Mobile Market

The first thing you’ll need to know—and really remember—is that your market is constantly evolving, so just as soon as you think you’ve got it all figured out, it will change.  Instead of being discouraging, this merely serves as a reminder to constantly be aware of our audiences and remember to pay attention to consumer needs and preferences.  When things change, we must change with them so we’re not left behind; so as you work to define your market and your mobile plan, just remember you’ll likely repeat the process as your market continues to change.  This constant forward momentum will keep your dealership at the top of its game.

So how do you define your mobile market and maximize your strategy for success?  How do you know who your audience is and whether or not they even hear what you’re saying?  

Defining Your Market

When you begin by defining your market, you’ll find it’s easier and more efficient to get relevant messages out to your audience.  Demographics are a great place to start.  You’ll want to know specifics about consumer characteristics in your market, especially things like income level, median age, occupation, education level, and whether there are specific ethnic groups your products or services could benefit.  By getting to know your potential customers, you’ll start to get a feel for what they might be shopping for, what types of vehicles they might enjoy, and even what budgetary considerations might exist when it comes to car shopping.

Demographics alone won’t tell you everything you need to know, however.  There is more work to do when it comes to getting to know your consumers, and this part is where you’ll really need to buckle in for some serious homework.  Instead of looking at hard numbers and facts, you’ll need to delve into the things that really motivate the shoppers in your area.  In addition to things like income and budget, you also need to look at some of the less tangible—yet just as important—things.  Known as psychographics, these are the things that answer the why, when, and how behind consumers choosing specific products.  What music do they like to listen to?  What services and special offers will best help them in their day-to-day lives?  Why do they prefer certain brands?  What makes them consider new products?  Their values, likes and dislikes, lifestyles, and myriad other details all play into helping consumers make product decisions—and by finding the answers to these questions, you’ll be guiding your dealership toward success as you better connect with your audience.

Once you’ve identified your audience, you’ll want to develop a targeted mobile plan that inspires consumers and lets them know you’re the dealership for them.  By outlining a clear path toward gaining shopper trust and growth in your target market, your dealership will be well on its way to reaching the goals you’ve set.  To get you started, we’re unveiling 6 tips to help you clean up your mobile campaign and reach consumers on a whole new level:

1. Check your compatibility.  The key to mobile is ensuring the content you put out there is compatible with a range of devices.  Consumers use a variety of mobile devices, and no one wants to deal with cumbersome content that doesn’t work seamlessly with the technology at hand.
2. Keep it local.  The great thing about your dealership is that you ARE local, so be sure to reach out to shoppers in the vicinity closest to you.  Leverage the trust you have built in consumers by being the home-town brand, and position your dealership as the neighborhood expert.  Consider providing coupons or specials to get neighbors to stop by with their automotive needs.
3. Get to the point.  Shoppers who are using mobile crave efficiency and information, so you’ll need to plan your marketing content accordingly.  Remember to give them the most important information first and get their attention quickly with headlines of interest and relevant content.
4. Think about your keywords.  In a mobile setting, consumers are often searching with a geographic location in mind, so be sure to include your local area in the keywords.  In fact, clickthrough rate increases by 200% when mobile ads and search results contain location data.
5. Consider a call-to-action.  Consumers are more likely to act when you let them know what you’d like them to do.  Be clear with your CTA and make it easily readable on mobile sites.
6. Be easy to contact.  Include your contact information in an easy-to-locate spot on your mobile site and consider a click-to-call button.  Consumers are continuously more mobile-friendly, and as they gather information on the go, they’ll want to be able to immediately call you when they’re ready to make a purchase or schedule an appointment.

Your consumers are on the move with mobile—and they’re waiting for content from

 you!  Be sure to present a mobile marketing plan that packs a punch by taking the necessary time to get to know your audience.  Your marketing message will be more powerful and will resonate when you work to define your market and present shoppers with exactly what they are looking for from a dealership.  The tremendous opportunity that exists in the mobile arena today makes it well worth the time and effort it takes to develop a quality strategy that creates brand awareness within your market.  So get out there and get mobile!

Defining and Attracting Your Mobile Consumer

More people in the world own smartphones than toothbrushes, so if your dealership isn’t already taking notice of the impact mobile marketing has on today’s shoppers, it’s time to sharpen the focus and zero in on how technology and convenience are changing the way consumers are shopping.  Businesses across the globe know that adapting and changing along with consumers is key when it comes to being successful, and everyone knows that today’s market is fast-moving and continually changing.  In order to compete and grab the attention of potential customers, you’ll need to reach them where they are shopping and researching—and the statistics tell us shoppers are increasingly using their mobile devices to help them with both purchases and pre-purchase research.

Why Go Mobile?

Before we get into the details of how to define your mobile audience, let’s take a quick look at the reasons mobile marketing makes sense for a busy dealership.  By going mobile to reach consumers, you’ll be able to target a specific audience with more accuracy, allowing you to deliver a more personalized message to various groups.  Not only will you be able to target specific consumer groups via mobile marketing, you’ll also have the opportunity to reach out and develop two-way communication, encouraging shoppers to interact with you via your marketing campaigns.  Mobile users tend to carry their devices with them most of the time, allowing more opportunity for your marketing to reach them in real-time.  For these very reasons—and simply because today’s consumers feel at home and comfortable with mobile communication, shopping, and research—your dealership will benefit from implementing a mobile marketing plan.

The importance of mobile has never been clearer than it is right now.  In fact, during the past holiday season, Target reported that 60% of its traffic for the months of November and December came from mobile devices.  This past year also showed Black Friday purchases via mobile coming in at double what they were the previous year for the retailer, and mobile doesn’t appear to be slowing down anytime soon.  

Defining Your Mobile Market

The first thing you’ll need to know—and really remember—is that your market is constantly evolving, so just as soon as you think you’ve got it all figured out, it will change.  Instead of being discouraging, this merely serves as a reminder to constantly be aware of our audiences and remember to pay attention to consumer needs and preferences.  When things change, we must change with them so we’re not left behind; so as you work to define your market and your mobile plan, just remember you’ll likely repeat the process as your market continues to change.  This constant forward momentum will keep your dealership at the top of its game.

So how do you define your mobile market and maximize your strategy for success?  How do you know who your audience is and whether or not they even hear what you’re saying?  

Defining Your Market

When you begin by defining your market, you’ll find it’s easier and more efficient to get relevant messages out to your audience.  Demographics are a great place to start.  You’ll want to know specifics about consumer characteristics in your market, especially things like income level, median age, occupation, education level, and whether there are specific ethnic groups your products or services could benefit.  By getting to know your potential customers, you’ll start to get a feel for what they might be shopping for, what types of vehicles they might enjoy, and even what budgetary considerations might exist when it comes to car shopping.

Demographics alone won’t tell you everything you need to know, however.  There is more work to do when it comes to getting to know your consumers, and this part is where you’ll really need to buckle in for some serious homework.  Instead of looking at hard numbers and facts, you’ll need to delve into the things that really motivate the shoppers in your area.  In addition to things like income and budget, you also need to look at some of the less tangible—yet just as important—things.  Known as psychographics, these are the things that answer the why, when, and how behind consumers choosing specific products.  What music do they like to listen to?  What services and special offers will best help them in their day-to-day lives?  Why do they prefer certain brands?  What makes them consider new products?  Their values, likes and dislikes, lifestyles, and myriad other details all play into helping consumers make product decisions—and by finding the answers to these questions, you’ll be guiding your dealership toward success as you better connect with your audience.

Once you’ve identified your audience, you’ll want to develop a targeted mobile plan that inspires consumers and lets them know you’re the dealership for them.  By outlining a clear path toward gaining shopper trust and growth in your target market, your dealership will be well on its way to reaching the goals you’ve set.  To get you started, we’re unveiling 6 tips to help you clean up your mobile campaign and reach consumers on a whole new level:

1. Check your compatibility.  The key to mobile is ensuring the content you put out there is compatible with a range of devices.  Consumers use a variety of mobile devices, and no one wants to deal with cumbersome content that doesn’t work seamlessly with the technology at hand.
2. Keep it local.  The great thing about your dealership is that you ARE local, so be sure to reach out to shoppers in the vicinity closest to you.  Leverage the trust you have built in consumers by being the home-town brand, and position your dealership as the neighborhood expert.  Consider providing coupons or specials to get neighbors to stop by with their automotive needs.
3. Get to the point.  Shoppers who are using mobile crave efficiency and information, so you’ll need to plan your marketing content accordingly.  Remember to give them the most important information first and get their attention quickly with headlines of interest and relevant content.
4. Think about your keywords.  In a mobile setting, consumers are often searching with a geographic location in mind, so be sure to include your local area in the keywords.  In fact, clickthrough rate increases by 200% when mobile ads and search results contain location data.
5. Consider a call-to-action.  Consumers are more likely to act when you let them know what you’d like them to do.  Be clear with your CTA and make it easily readable on mobile sites.
6. Be easy to contact.  Include your contact information in an easy-to-locate spot on your mobile site and consider a click-to-call button.  Consumers are continuously more mobile-friendly, and as they gather information on the go, they’ll want to be able to immediately call you when they’re ready to make a purchase or schedule an appointment.

Your consumers are on the move with mobile—and they’re waiting for content from

 you!  Be sure to present a mobile marketing plan that packs a punch by taking the necessary time to get to know your audience.  Your marketing message will be more powerful and will resonate when you work to define your market and present shoppers with exactly what they are looking for from a dealership.  The tremendous opportunity that exists in the mobile arena today makes it well worth the time and effort it takes to develop a quality strategy that creates brand awareness within your market.  So get out there and get mobile!

Finding your target market is a key part of a successful marketing strategy. Whether you want to highlight new inventory, promote an event, grow your service department’s customer base, or simply boost business, defining your ideal audience is key.

It’s easy to be generic when marketing because the hope is always to connect with as many different demographics as possible, but the truth is that the more personal approach you have, the more success you’ll have. You’ll connect with YOUR people—the ones who are really interested in what you’re offering. When your customers feel like all of the attention is on them, they are more than willing to share their experience with their network and help your dealership achieve even higher community engagement.

Dealerships already have a plethora of tools in front of them to discover their market, including customer insights and social media. Here are some ways your dealership can discover its market by fully utilizing these tools.  

Gain Customer Insights

Knowing consumer demographics is imperative to your marketing success because they give insight on who is already buying your products and using your services. Surveys are a great way to define your current audience and will certainly help you define your target audience as well, putting into perspective who you are best marketing to now, compared to consumer groups you should be targeting. The first portion of a target market survey should include the basics such as age, gender, location, language, and ethnicity. When you include more personal survey questions like questions about income, education, personality, hobbies, and preferences, you’ll gain even greater insights and more detailed information about your audience.

All the components of a survey work together to help your dealership discover which demographics are creating the most revenue for your business. They also show what your current market appreciates and looks for in your brand while simultaneously showing your dealership what to improve upon when trying to effectively market to them. Knowing the qualities your target market values most will help your dealership market even more effectively, as well as show what demographics are being left out of your marketing strategy.

Employees are a huge part of gaining consumer insights when it comes to your target market. Your employees have the most interaction with customers because of their close contact throughout the customer journey, at the point of sale, and at the service center. They know what makes customers most excited about the cars your dealership sells and the services you offer, and they have the opportunity to address customer concerns while simultaneously taking mental notes on the things specific shopper demographics are looking for when they visit your dealership. Listening to your employees and leveraging their experience with consumers on the job can give you a better idea of the things different demographics value in a car and thus, what to highlight in your marketing strategy.

Utilize Social Media

In our highly innovative and ever-changing world, social media has proven itself to be a powerful force. It’s not just for sharing pictures of dogs or vacation stories—now more than ever, people are sharing opinions about almost everything online including their favorite businesses and their best (or worst) experiences with companies. Along with social sharing, social media gives users various opportunities to connect with others in their demographics through the use of groups on Facebook, following on Twitter, or connecting on LinkedIn. These demographics are based on various things such as location, ethnicity, and hobbies. The chances are high that your customers and social media followers, fans, and friends are connected with other consumers who are car shopping, so missing an opportunity to connect with them on social media could mean missing out on an immeasurable number of sales.

Dealerships can effectively target their markets by finding social groups and communities that involve the automotive industry. Joining these groups will create interactions with members on a personal level. Making regular posts, being quick to reply to messages or comments, and encouraging others to share their ideas or suggestions will expose your dealership to more people who qualify as your target audience. In return, these connections can lead to sales, increased brand awareness, and free advertising if members feel inclined to share your dealership with others.

In addition to connecting with your own market, social media is a platform in which your dealership can monitor industry leaders and competitors. It is more than likely your competitors and other industry leaders have connections and contacts with people who aren’t familiar with your brand but who are interested in the automotive industry to some extent. Including these leads in your target market strategy by inviting them to like your Facebook page, following them on Twitter, or connecting with them on LinkedIn will lead them to your brand, inform them your dealership has alternative solutions to offer, and increase the number of genuine car buyers in your market.

Dealerships have many tools available to target their markets, but they sometimes

 overlook the day-to-day things they can do to help them reach consumers. Listening to current customers and connecting to others on social media will show you what consumers love about your dealership and bridge the gap between your dealership and potential buyers. Finding your target market in these simple ways can grow the size of your market while still allowing you to focus on current clients, reducing marketing costs and heightening sales.

Finding your target market is a key part of a successful marketing strategy. Whether you want to highlight new inventory, promote an event, grow your service department’s customer base, or simply boost business, defining your ideal audience is key.

It’s easy to be generic when marketing because the hope is always to connect with as many different demographics as possible, but the truth is that the more personal approach you have, the more success you’ll have. You’ll connect with YOUR people—the ones who are really interested in what you’re offering. When your customers feel like all of the attention is on them, they are more than willing to share their experience with their network and help your dealership achieve even higher community engagement.

Dealerships already have a plethora of tools in front of them to discover their market, including customer insights and social media. Here are some ways your dealership can discover its market by fully utilizing these tools.  

Gain Customer Insights

Knowing consumer demographics is imperative to your marketing success because they give insight on who is already buying your products and using your services. Surveys are a great way to define your current audience and will certainly help you define your target audience as well, putting into perspective who you are best marketing to now, compared to consumer groups you should be targeting. The first portion of a target market survey should include the basics such as age, gender, location, language, and ethnicity. When you include more personal survey questions like questions about income, education, personality, hobbies, and preferences, you’ll gain even greater insights and more detailed information about your audience.

All the components of a survey work together to help your dealership discover which demographics are creating the most revenue for your business. They also show what your current market appreciates and looks for in your brand while simultaneously showing your dealership what to improve upon when trying to effectively market to them. Knowing the qualities your target market values most will help your dealership market even more effectively, as well as show what demographics are being left out of your marketing strategy.

Employees are a huge part of gaining consumer insights when it comes to your target market. Your employees have the most interaction with customers because of their close contact throughout the customer journey, at the point of sale, and at the service center. They know what makes customers most excited about the cars your dealership sells and the services you offer, and they have the opportunity to address customer concerns while simultaneously taking mental notes on the things specific shopper demographics are looking for when they visit your dealership. Listening to your employees and leveraging their experience with consumers on the job can give you a better idea of the things different demographics value in a car and thus, what to highlight in your marketing strategy.

Utilize Social Media

In our highly innovative and ever-changing world, social media has proven itself to be a powerful force. It’s not just for sharing pictures of dogs or vacation stories—now more than ever, people are sharing opinions about almost everything online including their favorite businesses and their best (or worst) experiences with companies. Along with social sharing, social media gives users various opportunities to connect with others in their demographics through the use of groups on Facebook, following on Twitter, or connecting on LinkedIn. These demographics are based on various things such as location, ethnicity, and hobbies. The chances are high that your customers and social media followers, fans, and friends are connected with other consumers who are car shopping, so missing an opportunity to connect with them on social media could mean missing out on an immeasurable number of sales.

Dealerships can effectively target their markets by finding social groups and communities that involve the automotive industry. Joining these groups will create interactions with members on a personal level. Making regular posts, being quick to reply to messages or comments, and encouraging others to share their ideas or suggestions will expose your dealership to more people who qualify as your target audience. In return, these connections can lead to sales, increased brand awareness, and free advertising if members feel inclined to share your dealership with others.

In addition to connecting with your own market, social media is a platform in which your dealership can monitor industry leaders and competitors. It is more than likely your competitors and other industry leaders have connections and contacts with people who aren’t familiar with your brand but who are interested in the automotive industry to some extent. Including these leads in your target market strategy by inviting them to like your Facebook page, following them on Twitter, or connecting with them on LinkedIn will lead them to your brand, inform them your dealership has alternative solutions to offer, and increase the number of genuine car buyers in your market.

Dealerships have many tools available to target their markets, but they sometimes

 overlook the day-to-day things they can do to help them reach consumers. Listening to current customers and connecting to others on social media will show you what consumers love about your dealership and bridge the gap between your dealership and potential buyers. Finding your target market in these simple ways can grow the size of your market while still allowing you to focus on current clients, reducing marketing costs and heightening sales.