"center" on content

I came across an interesting concept for content marketing. This was from The Sales Lion in a post that introduced me to The Learning Center. This concept has also been called "content buckets", but I like learning center better. Marcus Sheridan wrote the piece, which I find compelling. Content is, to me, a broad term. It is generally information from an organization which has been published for various reasons.

Content comes in many forms. We usually put our content onto a blog in the form of a post. This introduces us to the information. After that, then what? Well what?

Blogs have generally used categories to organize the information. This is popular and I suggest using categories. Sometimes labels are used.... some bloggers may feel they are the same thing. But is that enough? Probably not. That's because your info, your content could be difficult to find. Blogs usually have search boxes.... but I'm thinking of presentation. Presenting your information as research or resource content. The Sales Lion post strives the same notion. Why? Because there is so much of it now. And the amount is growing.

The Sales Lion post gives an excellent example of a learning center. I find that the format is a recognizable blog format that can be found on Tumblr.

If this is not to your liking, your content resources may be put in the sidebar of your blog or you could create a learning center page and have a link to it. The possibilities are numerous.

What ever format you go with, keep focused on the learning center model. Your readers and others will appreciate the organization.

mission strategy

The message is clear. If you wish to get ahead, you must think and speak strategically. Organizations need a leader who is a strategist; one who serves.

We all contribute operational expertise towards a mission, vision, and value. To possess a strategic plan and way of thinking helps analyze and manage interaction, benchmarking, and system set-up.

Shifting your mindset from functional to strategic is a transformation that helps share vision and position.

Thinking strategically helps to see every part of the organization. This helps build strategic insight. More focus on business, market, and industry is needed to develop a strategic point of view.

MISSION STATEMENT

General Eisenhower

During WWII, the Supreme Headquarters, Allied Expeditionary Force (SHAEF) had a mission statement. It was the unconditional surrender of Nazi Germany. That mission statement did not change. SHAEF didn't waver or waffle from it. The Allies' goal was crystal clear, from General Dwight David Eisenhower, the Supreme Commander of SHAEF, to the children collecting old bicycle tires in America for recycling, and everyone in between. The mission statement was short and simple, easy to remember, and projected a vision which was unforgettable.

KNOW YOUR INDUSTRY

SHAEF knew how many men, tanks, planes, trucks, cannon, guns...... well, you got the picture.
Do you know your picture? If not... paint one. Know your inventory. Know the managers who are in charge of the various departments. Learn and know this now! You can't be a strategic thinker and develop a plan without knowing your resources.

Know the market and anticipate where the general, overall market is going. Have a general idea of technological changes and how these advances are being applied. Don't be shortsighted.

TALK STRATEGY

 Your mission and vision won't get you very far if you can't talk the talk. Develop a network of those you feel  are valuable to your organization. We've all heard the value of networking. Put what you've heard into practice. Networking should be ongoing. If you need outside sources, find these folks with LinkedIn and other Social Media platforms. Don't do networking as an afterthought. Instead, develop a network that will serve you as a means of support.

Talk with decision-makers who have a firm grasp of command and control throughout their own organizations. Groom mentor relationships by volunteering your expertise to keep the conservations going. Make this part of your plan and keep to it.

CONCLUSION

There is a leadership component in all of us. We all have a vision. Perhaps at times it's a bit blurry, but that's where your mission statement comes into play. Becoming a strategic thinker allows you to share the mission, vision, and value of your organization from within and without to customers, prospects, and colleagues.

innovation for success

Collective innovation helps give us a competitive edge. Pulling in fresh ideas is the driving force of
creativity. To distinguish ourselves we've relied on social networks to know our market.

"I believe innovation can come from anywhere."
                                                                                                    - Brian Lillie, CIO, Equinix

 
Innovation programs need processes and incentives to continue creative pursuits. A creative pursuit eventually leads to a project, which needs a plan to proceed. Project plans without adequate resources don't do well. A good management platform is a must to bring a project to a successful finish. Bringing ideas to fruition means a life-cycle is established. Your management platform organizes the specific business issues.

This "organization of issues" needs led by a "small core" that ensures quality. This "small core" entity might use crowdsourcing to reap ideas, however a system to funnel those ideas into an innovative process has to be in place for success.

Project management has a challenging task to undertake. Agility allows projects to be broken down into smaller components. For this to take charge successfully, project teams require good collaboration. Have your components review all their information and data. Good reviews evaluate status to identify current and potential problems. Review to give your project every opportunity to succeed.

Your project components have 3 steps to follow:

1. Innovation Management
2. Technology
3. Incubation

 Innovation groups discuss opportunities and map the strategy. Technologies are then discovered so incubation (start of the life-cycle) begins for a project to start. This is the tactical approach to strategy implementation.

Mapping gives us visualization and the entire process gains support. Each component (project team or individual) enters into the project management process. The innovative initiative is born to present and promote a project.

Innovation like this helps bring ROI into the mix to focus your business forward.

Resources, both internal and external, help define your processes for producing a good, solid management platform. You'll find project life-cycles are established simpler and sooner for successful conclusions.

BOOKS FROM AMAZON ON THE TOPIC OF INNOVATION