May 31, 2009
Looks like a great program in a couple of weeks on social media.
In fact, it looked so good that it is currently SOLD OUT!
Now that is an indication of the the interest in applying social media in NH businesses - and a great sign!
Thanks to Lani from epiphanies for sending the link and be sure to drop your name on the registration site in case a space opens or just to stay in touch with this movement.
AND congrats to the NH Dept of Economic Development for being part of this effort and for their blog too!
May 22nd, 2009 by Lani and Allen
In recognition of the growing importance of social media marketing to the success of businesses large and small, the NH Division of Economic Development, in coordination with social marketing and success strategies firm Epiphanies, Inc., Public Service of New Hampshire (PSNH), and the “Stay, Work & Play” initiative, will host the first annual “A-Ha!” NH Social Media Business Summit at PSNH, 780 North Commercial Street, Manchester, on Monday, June 15th from 9:00 a.m.-3:30 p.m.
May 20, 2009
OR is it the New England brand?
Scott Kirsner recently organized a brainstorming session where a great mix of tech economy players from across New England’s who kicked around thoughts on “branding/positioning” New England, check it out from his Innovation Economy blog (including audio).
We had a great 2.5 hour brainstorming session last night at the offices of Flybridge Capital Partners in the Back Bay, focused on this question: how do we better communicate New England’s innovative, creative, entrepreneurial spirit to the rest of the world?
Having been in the New Hampshire tech sector for the last 25 years I can relate to one of the main points - it is more about a region than about individual states. In fact, one interesting scenario would be a nice combo of inter-related state and regional positioning - something that captures a state’s unique identity within a region known more broadly for its ”innovation quotient”. It would be nice to say goodbye to the “cow hampshire” comments that frequently play out behind our backs! However, I do like it when people think of NH as the “Live Free or Die” state OR as the “First In The Nation” (for our unique position in the Presidential Nominating process = the front!). While I think both of those notions uniquely capture NH’s entrepreneurial spirit - and if you think I am kidding just come on up and meet some of the Presidential candidates who all believe they can be “the one” - I am left feeling that there is more work to be done on our positioning.
Every few years the NH Dept of Resources and Economic Development - (locally known as “DRED”, GREAT people doing great work who deserve a better dept name! ) - embarks upon an exercise in refining the New Hampshire brand. Matt Pierson who is the Chairman of the NHHTC Council, and who also participated in Scott Kirsner’s regional conversation, has worked hard along with his colleagues as part of that effort, so I have confidence that the current efforts in that regard will yield well thought-out ideas and some interesting promotional actions. Until that comes out I am left trying out a new idea, “LIVE GREEN OR DIE”, just laying that out there for now … think about it.
May 8, 2009
Some closure on those earlier posts about the NHHTC Entrepreneur of the Year question and and the selection of Skillsoft …
NHHTC President Presents SKIL Founders EOY Award
As Chuck Moran and his co-founders Jerry Nine, Tom McDonald and Mark Housell accepted their NH Entrepreneurs of The Year award the other night he was able to share several key factors in their success.
He shared that the one thing that drives them above all else is the customer and he reinforced the point by saying that all those who stood with him on that dais spent most of every day directly interacting with customers versus “internal matters”.
He also made the point that they waste no money on things like facilities - they ALL work in cubicles and he likes the side benefits which are constant company sharing since they can all hear each other, AND few if any staff meetings needed for the same reason!
But the one point that jumped out at me - they spend 80% of their time on execution and only 20% on strategy.
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