Think of me as Communications Windex. I help companies and individuals differentiate themselves, ensuring the true value of their brand, product, or service is crystal-clear to their target audience. I sharpen brand and strategic messages to increase sales and partner retention, improve RFP and negotiation “close” ratios, and drive employee engagement. I eliminate barriers to marketing success by creating consistency across business “silos” and crafting sales messages, support tools, marketing collateral, and curriculum that drive accountability at the team and enterprise level and bring order to chaos. I started my career in business journalism and corporate media relations, so I get up to speed quickly, learn your business, and deliver a simple, “sticky” message.
What keeps you awake at night?
For some executives, it’s sales and marketing materials – including RFP responses and sales proposals – that fail to capture what sets you apart from your competition. For others, it’s the feeling that your negotiation teams are just “winging it” against better-prepared prospects. And for some, it’s hearing the constant complaint that internal processes are broken and it takes way too long to get things done.
Sometimes companies need a fresh set of eyes. Sometimes they just need someone who knows how to get things done. I bring both…with the added benefit (from my experience as an award-winning editor and reporter) of working quickly and asking great questions that help move your organization forward.
I call my approach Bulldog Simplicity because it describes how I work to reduce communications and organizational complexity. John Maeda describes simplicity, in his book The Laws of Simplicity, as “subtracting the obvious and adding the meaningful.” You can read more about how I work on my Bulldog Simplicity blog out on my home page (or by clicking Home in the Navigation Bar).
Don’t you deserve a good night’s sleep?
Here are some things I can do for you…with links to specific pages for more information:
- Elevator Speeches/Value Propositions. What makes you remarkable…in simple terms everyone can remember?
- Product/Service Launches. Avoid the list of features…explain the benefits.
- Business Plans. Where are we headed? Or…why should I give you money? And without the mind-numbing complexity.
- External Communications. White papers, talking points, annual reports, and more.
- Presentations That Stick. Be persuasive (i.e., don’t be that bullet-reading other presenter).
- Preparation for Media Interviews. Avoid disaster: Turn them into marketing home runs.
- “Personal” Branding. Beef up your LinkedIn Profile and/or create a website that raises your profile.
RFP AND NEGOTIATIONS STRATEGY AND EXECUTION
- Value-Focused RFP Responses. Using a proprietary process, I can help you craft responses that differentiate you from the competition OR develop proposals that drive responses that help you base your decision on more than price.
- Making Negotiations an Organizational Core Competency. Tired of finishing second…or never being quite sure where you stand? I’ll help you figure out your team’s strengths and weaknesses and then develop customized education, reinforcement and preparation tools to make them more effective.
- Deal Coaching. Get ready for critical negotiations. I’ll guide you through the minefields.
- Sales Presentation Templates. Give your team a starting point so they can concentrate on customizing your message to prospects or existing clients.
- Process Re-Engineering. Streamline production and partner-management processes.
CURRICULUM DEVELOPMENT AND DELIVERY
- Bottom-Line Orientation. Experienced at developing and facilitating case-study and multi-module programs that include tools that participants use long after the class. Specializing in Negotiations, Marketing, Partner Management, Sales, and Business Writing.
SPEECH/PRESENTATION/WORKSHOP TOPICS
- Turning Negotiations into an Organizational Core Competency
- Responding to RFPs: Do You Have an Organizational Strategy?
- Social Media Workshop: Strategy Before Tactics
- LinkedIn Profiles: Does Yours Pass the “So What” Test?
- Is Consulting Right for You? Factors to Consider Before Making the Leap
- The Disappearing Full-Time Position: Launching Your Successful Portfolio Career
- Peeling Back the Onion: The Collegiate Affinity Credit Card Market
ADDITIONAL SERVICES:
Collegiate Credit Card Programs: I’m helping alumni associations and universities get a better handle on how the economy and changes in the legislative environment will impact their credit-card program revenue. If you’re losing sleep over your program’s future income, I can help you find ways to make your program more profitable.
Personal Branding: A growing number of unemployed and under-employed executives are losing sleep over their inability to get traction in their job searches. If you’re in that group, I can help you crystallize your value proposition, beef up your resume and/or LinkedIn profile and demonstrate what sets you apart from your competition.
