Blogs to Inspire

How can lawyers build brand trust

Building trust in the face of negative public and market opinions is an issue may professional services face including those in the legal sector. So how can lawyers  build brand trust ? Yet, it’s a great irony that the legal profession with its noble endeavour, high barrier of entry and incumbent lifelong commitment to the…

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How leaders personal brands impact employee and client trust

Attracting and retaining the best staff and clients will more competitive in 2021 than ever.  With the impact of COVID-19,  ongoing market challenges, industry disruptions and the new hybrid workplace models, it’s essential that  C-Suite & HR leaders commit to building their brand and digital footprint.   Leaders personal brands impact employee and client trust in…

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Is self employment right for you?

Early in 2020 before COVID fully unfolded many were ruminating on their career and business directions.  Staying employed, changing jobs or joining the self employment world was on the minds of so many  men and women of all ages.    Flying Solo’s insightful  editor  Lucy Kippist invited me onto her podcast to talk about this…

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LinkedIn members vote for profiles in the 1st person

The vast majority of Australia’s  LinkedIn members seek to  impress, inspire and influence others in some way shape or form.   And personal profiles are the nucleus for that success.  So what is the best writing style to use? The answer has been given as  LinkedIn members vote for profiles written in the 1st person There…

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Top 100 LinkedIn Hashtags

To kickstart the year on LinkedIn, I have researched and updated my list of the global Top 100 LinkedIn Hashtags as of 11 January 2021.  Note this blog is regularly updated.  Using the right hashtags in the right way is an essential component of successful LinkedIn content marketing.  There is not a lot of change…

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Genuine apologies build personal and brand trust

Reputations are entwined in the confidence to trust in relationships and outcomes.   But when the proverbial hits the fan there are real opportunities to boost brand trust.  And the proverbial will hit the fan at some point in some way to and from us all. When the fan goes it’s a  real opportunity for genuine…

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How to find good marketing services

Marketing and media is central to business growth but how to find  good marketing services is not always easy.  The world has forever changed with entire sectors and individual businesses having either grown, collapsed, barely survived or significantly evolved.  And it will be even more competitive in 2021 as new entrants emerge in the gig…

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How to get more interviews and job offers with a marketing mindset

Seeking a new job or career change is a pain in the backside  at the best of times. This article explores how to get more interviews and job offers with a marketing mindset. But first lets look at the actual hiring ecosystem dance. The hiring dance  Languid hiring processes, cognitive dissonance and ‘isms‘ (age, gender,…

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LinkedIn updates and new features

The last 8 months on the LinkedIn highway has been fast and furious. So it was timely for a list of  LinkedIn updates and new features. The platform has seen a 26% global member and engagement growth as reported in ‘Social Media Today’ and various reports. The current crises has clearly driven this swing and simultaneously…

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Navigating the hiring ATS robots

A true story was shared with me recently about Bill (not his real name). Now Bill’s is one of many similar stories I hear around issues of navigating the hiring ATS robots. Bill had applied for a  senior role via an online hiring process.. The organisation was a high profile sporting employer of choice and Bill…

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How to choose LinkedIn and SEO services

One of the biggest concerns for businesses and consultants is how to choose LinkedIn and SEO services. Wrong choices with dodgy or ineffective services will cost dearly. Some background as opinions of an industry derive from personal experience or hearsay.  The 2019 Ipsos Global Trust in Professions poll ranked Politicians trust levels at 10% and…

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LinkedIn content preferences revealed

LinkedIn content preferences revealed may change content strategies.   Assumptions and hype without critical analysis and unbiased feedback is a recipe for social media marketing disaster. Every platform holds distinctive value positioning in attracting and retaining members with LinkedIn being the flagship of professionals and businesses.  And great content drives eyeballs, builds trust and commercial relationships.…

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Personal branding lessons from a vegetable peeler

Who would have thought a basic kitchen utensil  would be a source of communication and personal branding wisdom?  Well read on. There are many personal branding lessons from a vegetable peeler. Lockdown and recipe repertoire  Like so many in recent months, my passion for cooking was reignited.  Mind you I had always been pretty deft…

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What is the vibe of your LinkedIn profile?

The vibe of your LinkedIn profile matters.  What is your vibe and how are your perceived? Your vibe will be integral in inspiring action and trust. It forms the basis to attract  networks, conversations, ideal clients or a new job or career. Most Australians will recall the brilliant line from the much loved movie The…

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Attract clients with experience branding

Everything we do, write and say will either attract or repel others.   It’s simply part of the human condition and universal law.  And whilst some reactions appear neutral, I guarantee that deep down there is a leaning to one end of that pendulum.  Businesses need to attract clients with experience branding. Experience branding is the…

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How to use content marketing on LinkedIn

LinkedIn is the No 1 social media for B2B marketing and content distribution driving 50% of all website traffic.  How to use content marketing on LinkedIn is crucial for success. With over 2 million pieces of content loaded each day and 9 billion impressions the  platform is a bonanza of professional value. Yet only  between …

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A tagline is marketing magic

Taglines are not just for the big end of corporate and advertising town.  Are you a small business, a consultant or self employed  competing  with big  brands?   Then a  brilliant tagline is marketing magic  to set you apart, raise  visibility and inspire confidence. A strong and clear tagline is the brand vision and marketing  foundation of …

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Why offering free services is not always a good idea

Knee jerk reactions and blindly following  the marketing sheep herd is never a wise move in the best of times,    In this article I look at why offering free services is not always a good idea in the COVID crises. Prior to  the COVID  many businesses and industry sectors were already struggling.  Some were…

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Ageism and career biases are just foolish

Ageism and career  biases  are just foolish.  We must  all address and stamp out ageism for job opportunities,  mental, social and economic well being.   Doing so is more critical now than ever as we all navigate and battle through COVID and the new world after the crises. Let’s look at  Australian music legends Nick Cave…

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How to use LinkedIn hashtags for COVID19 content

It goes without saying that now more than ever during the pandemic that  LinkedIn will be a crucial place to network, support and build personal and business brand visibility.   So its important to know how to use  LinkedIn hashtags for COVID19 and related workplace content. LinkedIn will and has seen a huge increase of circa…

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The bending tree of LinkedIn during COVID19

A tree that doesn’t bend in a storm will break which is never a truer idiom than for the current extraordinary crises. Everyone is impacted in some way with the coronavirus storm and are experiencing varying degrees of pain and vulnerability. Social media and businesses are the trees that are flailing and trying to adapt…

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LinkedIn cannot be everything to everyone

Businesses and LinkedIn cannot be everything to everyone.  And nor should they try.  You see we don’t venture into a 5 star Michelin restaurant to order a fast food burger or take a camping holiday expecting a gilded infinity pool in a caravan park.  Nor do we expect a bookstore to sell a TV or…

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Diving below the iceberg of testimonials and social proof

Hiring new staff or suppliers can be risky business at the best of times.  There are never any guarantees, but without discernment and due diligence the risks increase exponentially.  So diving below the  iceberg  of testimonials and social proof to minimise risk is essential. Small businesses  are particularly vulnerable if a new hire or supplier…

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Don’t give up on love and your goals

Have you ever said to yourself ‘I’ve had enough, I’ve tried this many times and it didn’t work’ or ‘I’ve used up all my chances’ or ‘I have nothing left’ or ‘I’m done’, I want no more  relationships?    But it really is worthwhile to hang on, so don’t give up on love and your …

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Why LinkedIn Engagement Pods are a bad idea

This article has been updated in October 2023  Why LinkedIn engagement pods and buying fake followers/engagement are a bad idea is critical to understand as more businesses and career professionals embrace the opportunities of LinkedIn.  See the addition of AI integrated commenting and paid engagement services. Increasing reach and visibility to grow influence is the…

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Standing up for values is an important part of personal branding

Brené Brown famous quote  “you can choose courage or comfort, but you cannot choose both” is a powerful mantra.  Standing up for values is an important part of personal branding.  This  ethos has had particular relevance during the 2019  Melbourne Cup carnival as many took a stand,  albeit nervously against a much loved event and…

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The buck stops with YOU on LinkedIn

The buck stops with you on LinkedIn.  This blogs shows how to increase success on LinkedIn by taking control of your profile. The diversity of people on LinkedIn runs the full gamut.  From Prime Ministers, global industry leaders, high profile influencers, celebrities, ASX & Fortune 500 directors, SMB owners, practitioners of all vocations, freelancers, junior…

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How our first jobs can shape our business and personal brand values

Our core values and important lessons we hold close  have been cultivated via many aspects in our life.  How our first jobs can shape our business and personal brand values is foundational to our careers.    Leaders must treat young people and new staff with care.  How  they manage young people (under 28yo) under their…

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Conquering the imposter monster with tough love

Does the Imposter Monster try and control you and nip at your confidence and goals?  Conquering the Imposter Monster with tough love is key to success.  As business owners or career executives you simply : “have to do what we have to do, to get what we want to get” Now I’m not referring here…

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There is no correlation between age & value, but ageism is always a sign of stupidity

Ageism is always a sign of stupidity as this article will demonstrate.  But first off lets look at Australian music legends Nick Cave and Missy Higgins who share much in common. Both are pretty cool humans, have traversed many a career and life challenge, and profoundly touch audiences with their perennial and gut-wrenching lyrics. Nick…

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Buying followers and engagement on LinkedIn EXPOSED

LinkedIn is the premier social media platform for professionals without equal rival and is unequivocally a critical business tool.   However, all that glitters is not gold, and perception does not always match reality as buying followers and engagement on LinkedIn EXPOSED. This article was also exclusively published in Smart Company.  :  All that glitters is…

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How to Build Personal Brand Authority

How to build  personal brand authority can be one of the biggest marketing challenges professional consultants and  small businesses face .  And particularly so for highly disruptive and competitive  markets that are saturated with content overwhelm Not everyone is, or can be a thought leader, major influencer or a big personality.   But everyone can be…

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How to Qualify Prospects

How to  how to qualify prospects is key to sanity and survival.   Do you lose your mojo, feel awkward and/or waste time with new prospect conversations?  Even with the most brilliant personal branding, website, LinkedIn and marketing strategies you still need to qualify quickly.  Learning how to qualify prospects if they are willing, ready and…

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Curb the CURB and stop the coffee catch up request bullshit

Are you tired of receiving requests for coffee catch ups that don’ t have purpose? Are you tired of  grabbing ‘a coffee’  in the hope of business value then kick yourself on the way back to the office or home?   Are you tired of having your brains picked?  You are a victim of the CURB epidemic.  Lets  Curb…

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Build business and brand trust by being visible and stepping out

Negative assumptions  must be minimised at every opportunity whenever possible online.  We build business and brand trust by being visible and stepping out.    Albert Einstein famously quoted that “Imagination is more important than knowledge”. Indeed imagination is a glorious attribute that in its positive form is the fuel of childhood wonderment, human and business creativity. Imagination…

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Increase sales enquiries from your website with trust

The website is the nerve centre for every business.   To maximise  enquiries from your website you need to build trust.  How to increase sales enquiries  from your website with trust starts by including every vital information element. Even with the best aesthetics, navigation experiences and quality content, a website that does not provide a range of contact…

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Keep a foot on the marketing pedal in the good times

The unexpected can blindside even the most successful of professional businesses.   Even in the busiest of times with great clients and brilliant loyal staff unforeseen circumstances can totally shake the equilibrium to pieces.   Small to medium businesses can   minimise client and staff loss by keeping a foot on the marketing pedal in the good times. Successful…

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Likes & Dislikes -Tools & Behaviours for Great LinkedIn Results

LinkedIn members who are dedicated  regular users all agree the platform delivers substantial benefits.   But what would a deeper probe of experiences reveal?   What are the tools and behaviours for great LinkedIn results? Asking members what they really liked and disliked about LinkedIn were important questions. Answers would shine a balanced light on the activities,…

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When & how to reward clients to differentiate your brand

Are you just part of a mass herd of parties, dinners, gifts, cards and hampers to clients during the Xmas period?  How can you differentiate your  brand? What are the best times to stand out?  When & how to reward clients to differentiate your brand is a question every business needs to think about in…

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The real reason you are being interviewed

Do you know the real reason you are being interviewed?  As you are  plonked down firmly in front of a recruiter, HR or direct hiring manager this question may be well swirling in your mind.   You may have found your way there via a job advertisement, a referral or your own career protectiveness.  But however you…

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