douglasmkelly's posterous

Last week I discussed changes in business from a Social Media and Marketing stand point. Today I want to apprise of other changes – more of an Evolve business nature.

I mentioned, in the beginning of March, that change was gonna come. That change was that I merged my company with another in the Greater Grand Rapids Michigan area. We had been selling each other's services for some time and developed a friendship. We decided that living together was worth giving a try. So I grabbed some clothes, my tooth brush, and was allowed way more than a drawer in their apartment.

Do you know how much work it is merging two companies? And on top of that we thought we could also start another company together? Consequently, I've been too incredibly busy to blog - and, until recently, barely able to tweet.

Things didn't work out, unfortunately, and the merger diverged or divested a couple weeks ago. Occasionally, through no end of trying, relationships don't succeed. So as to not lose a friendship or working relationship, gNetworks' owners and I separated back to being Affiliated Partners. Evolve will still work with gNetworks to provide the highest quality website designs and Content Management Systems for West Michigan and beyond, but we're going to do it in a coextensive manner. So we're kinda like friends with privileges.

I am back accomplishing Social Media Consulting, Website Design, eCommerce applications and Internet Business Consulting for Evolve Solutions' clients. I am pretty happy about this move. Some might think this a setback or a failure - I believe something untried is a potential loss. Risk doesn't always succeed in reward, but you will not know until you try. We tried something that sounded great, looked good on paper, and was an expansion of an already good relationship. I learned a lot. I hope they did too. Moving on.

Quote: "For every failure, there's an alternative course of action. You just have to find it. When you come to a roadblock, take a detour." - Mary Kay Ash (1918-2001) Founder of Mary Kay Cosmetics

The headline of this post is a quote by Tony Rubleski of the Mind Capture Group. Tony recently spoke at a GRAPE Lunch and Learn/Networking Opportunity. Tony's talk was driven from his background as a marketer and was built out of his 3 books on sales and marketing. Tony is correct, we are all selling something to each other. Ministers are selling to their faithful and sinners alike. I saw this first hand at a local Community Expo, where there were at least 5 local churches with booths. Small Business Owners, sales personnel, advertisers and marketers are selling their products or services. Workers are constantly selling their abilities and talents, to their bosses. Managers have to sell their decisions and direction to their employees.

I joined GRAPE, or Grand Rapids Area Professionals for Excellence, as a way to network with local professionals. I've actually joined 5 groups and, by the end of last week, attended 8 separate networking group's events. I sell best to people I've met or know. Gaining referral customers is how Evolve has done business since it's inception. I'm, personally, out meeting as many people as I can, looking for new business. When Evolve Solutions started out, our sales guy joined a business networking group called BNI. I found them a little too ridged, and we didn't get as many quality referrals or as much business as I'd hoped. We quit after the 1st year. In the last several months, I've joined a few "free" groups and did pay to join one, here in West Michigan: AimWest. Tony's 3rd point on referral strategy was, "network, network, network" - I think I'm pretty well getting that down. A new friend said I should get paid to network, I'm that good at it. I think it's just, mostly, I like to talk and I like to listen.

One of the questions on my mind at 2:30am is "How can I find new clients or better yet how do I differentiate myself?". "Mind Capture", as Tony discussed, and being that "yellow tulip in a sea of red" is what I'm trying to find. How can I stand out from the rest of the herd. I'm fighting a major marketing challenge in this digital age: choice, and what Tony called "Word of Mouse". There are at least 300 web design firms and freelancers in Grand Rapids, alone. Almost everyone says they can build a website.

Rubleski quoted Amazon's founder, Jeff Bezos, "Sometimes you have to be willing to be miss-understood", during his speak. Any of you that know me, probably have noticed, that I don't fit any real concept entirely. But for the rest of you, yes, I wear an earring, sport the spiky hair and goatee, but did you know that I own guns and hunt? Did you know that I hate taxes and big government, but recycle? A couple friends call me a hippy, and yes I love my Teva Sandals, mountain biking, tent camping, kayaking, commuting by bike and there's that recycle thing. On the other hand I shower daily, own a suit, a couple dozen ties (shocking to some) and love martinis. I do not fit into any political group.

I believe, if you're my potential client, you're going to hire someone that doesn't fit any mold. I love to listen to clients, learn of their business and what they create, or their business philosophy. Sales engineering has been one of my duties for Evolve Solutions, as well as for a previous company. This means that I engineer a solution as part of the sales process. I can accomplish this because I can empathize with the guy on the other side of the table. I built my house; so I can talk blue prints with architects, I can talk about cabinetry with builders, and I can converse Watts with Electricians. I've worked on all 14 cars I've owned, so I know how to talk to mechanics and automotive parts suppliers. I spent time in the Air Force. I've fixed computers, Mac, PC and Linux. I ride bikes, motorcycles, snow mobiles and jet skis. I own 2 chain saws and solely heat with wood, but I've researched pretty much all forms of heating and cooling. I was a Graphic Designer before I became a Web Designer. This stacks up that I've lived a pretty full existence and can probably relate to something in your life.

Clients that I've worked with produce stone adhesives, car parts, big heavy machines, adhesive labels, and jewelry. I've created for clients in the medical field, horse ranchers, parts suppliers, furniture manufacturers and suppliers, non-profits, automobile sellers, soap manufacturers, retailers and missionaries. The best part about working with so many, varied clients is that I am so much more well rounded. I understand many supply chain, manufacturing and sales processes. Most likely you're not going to have to spend too much time training me on the broader aspects of your company. I probably already know your market, but I'm still going to ask about it. How do I stand apart from the rest? Start by reviewing my linked-in profile, and then decide for your self. Since 1997, I have worked on over 800 websites, either hands on, or managing the teams. I started writing HTML before you could take a class on it.

So if you've hired or are thinking of hiring one of those other guys: Here's a couple questions to ask yourself, "How well do they do it?" or "How much experience do they have?". Do they understand your clients, what browsers they're using, and how they find you. If you have already hired them, did they listen to you and provide you with the perfect design the first time? Or, did it take more than 2 compositions to get it right? Did they provide a solution to your problem, or just a website? I again refer you back to my LinkedIn. Check out my recommendations. I will make your business's site better looking, more functional and easier to use for you existing and potential clients.

Wheew! That was a long rant. Thanks to those of you that made it to the end. Douglas steps off his soap box.