Discovering Tomorrow. Living Today.

The tumbleweed of my life.

[matthewperosi]

Did you know there's a right and a wrong way for business to act on social media? I was on this Social Media Etiquette panel at the recent JA show in New York. My key points were: 1. Don't talk politics on social because you'll alienate half your audience 2. Don't talk religion on social media because your also alienate segments of your audience 3. No bullying. Don't attack the work others do because you have the opinion that your work is better. You can read about the full discussion here: http://bit.ly/2w3RrZl #socialmedia #businesscoach #marketingagency #localbusiness (at Javits Center)

[matthewperosi]

Want more information? Just ask. I always invite questions throughout my seminars so you get the answer you need relating to that specific topic I'm talking about. I also invite the Q&A after my seminars and am willing to continue for a while. For those who stick around, these after session conversations often times turn out to be more valuable than for them than the original seminar. I've always felt it was important,as a speaker, to stay for these extra conversations, which is why I never book my flights home right after my seminars. You'll never hear me say "I gotta catch a flight" while running from a seminar. Pay attention to who runs from their seminars and you'll see who's in it for the money rather than the benefits of the students. #speakerlife #businesscoach #tradeshows #seminars

[matthewperosi]

Do you have a continual education plan? All new businesses experience a honeymoon period when customers first discover you and business grows quickly. Eventually the newness will wear off and your own excitement about the business might turn to boredom. That's when you'll have to figure out ways to keep people coming back to the store. Attending continued education programs at trade shows is one small way to enrich yourself with better ways to do what you'll already doing or help you come up with new sizzling ideas. This is a photo from my seminar at the @ja_newyork winter 2017 show. I'm always presenting new ideas or better ways to deal with old problems. Sadly, this seminar wasn't well attended, but that wasn't because of me or the topic. Truthfully, most of these seminars are under-attended. I always wonder if business owners feel they don't need to learn new things or if their egos are getting in the way of them listening to someone else. Every time I look out at the eager faces at these seminars I know that these are the people who are willing to learn new tricks and do what it takes to stay in business and I'm proud to be part of the reason they will make it in the future. Will you make it in the future? Send me a direct message if you are worried about it. #continuededucation #learnmore #businessgrowth #businesscoach (at Javits Center)

[matthewperosi]

Do you follow old techniques that everyone else uses or are you willing to take risks? I took this photo when I was guest lecturing at FIT in March 2017. The jewelry design students are learning how to build a business model and focus on branding their line. My lecture explained the difficulties of starting their business and trying to sell through trade shows and to retail jewelers. I really enjoy sharing my experiences with the jewelry industry with the students and giving my insights to potentially better business models and modern methods of customer service. There's no reason to follow old business model methods , in fact there's plenty of data to suggest that retail jewelers are failing because they are not willing to take risks on new products or new process methods. Are you stuck in a rut? I can help you get unstuck. Send me a direct message and mention this post. #businesscoach #onlinemarketing #socialmedia #ecommerce (at Fashion Institute of Technology)

[matthewperosi]

Why do you attend tradeshows? There's so much more to a tradeshow than just meeting suppliers and reordering inventory. Most tradeshows have an education program that brings together accomplished experts to share their wisdom with you. Look over the program schedule at the next show and attend a seminar on a topic you know little or nothing about, it will stir your thinking. #businesscoach #onlinemarketing #socialmedia #ecommerce (at Javits Center)

[matthewperosi]

Do you have access to your own inventory when you're at a trade show? This is a throwback pic of me in my booth at the #jcklasvegas show in 2004. That's back when we were recovering from the 2001 recession and thoughts of 9-11 were still top of mind in everyone's thoughts. Websites weren't top of mind for everyone back then, and mobile websites were just starting to appear with the .mobi domain extension. Notice the sign on the booth wall behind me, it says "know what you sell" which referred to the mobile ability to access your product inventory while you were at a trade show. Selling a mobile website back then was a hard pitch, but this mobile service was to help you decide which new inventory to buy without accidentally buying the same or similar items. It was sloppy looking, but it was a useful business tool. I built my first "mobi" website in 2001. Yes, 2001, not 2011. It worked on Nokia and Siemens cell phones that had B&W or color LCD screens. Most web developers didn't start programming mobile sites until 2011 when smartphones became commonplace. I've always been ahead of the curve with technology because I'm willing to try new things (and waste a lot of money on tech toys) to see what will work and what won't. New business ideas and innovation come from experience, not reading the latest blog post. I believed in the power of mobile websites from the first time I experimented with the technology, it just took another 10 years for everyone to have smartphones and for cell companies to offer reasonable data plans. When it comes to choosing a web guy, would you rather work with someone who has 29 years experience online and 16 years experience on mobile, or the guy who just learned how to make a fancy looking website working the last 5 years and doesn't know yet how the internet landscape has and can change over time? You trust your own experience, so trust mine. Send me a direct message and mention this post for a 30min free consultation. #businesscoach #onlinemarketing #ecommerce #mobilewebsite (at Sapphire Collaborative)

[matthewperosi]

When was the last time you looked at your website traffic stats? Your website reports are not rocket science. The basics are easy to learn like: * High bounce rate usually means people don't like your website. * Long visit time usually means your information is high quality. * High organic visitors usually means your website is getting noticed in search. Know what to look for and use that data to make your site better. I know too many indie businesses that are ignoring their website traffic while they spin their wheels and waste money on other forms of advertising when they could better focus their attention in the right place. Ask your website person to help you ready your website states and get their recommendations for making things better. Or you can direct message me for help. This photo taken back in 2005 when I was giving a seminar on websites and how to use them for business. #businesscoach #onlinemarketing #socialmedia #ecommerce

[matthewperosi]

Did you settle for your website or is it one you really deserve? This was my IJO seminar way back in 2005, yet the question is still relevant today. Too many indie retail jewelers are choosing website solutions because they look pretty or have fancy inventory cloud features because they will make their life easy. Let's get one thing straight, if your website is easy and allows you to be lazy and hands off, then you're not doing it right! If you or your staff is not active in the daily operation of your website and all it can do for your business, then you took the wrong approach. I don't want excuses for no time or no money to get this done right. We all make the time and find the money for things we want to do. Owners of indie stores should have a vested interest in the changes of technology and how the internet of things can enhance customer service and build a business. Everyone deserves a better website option that's more than just cute looking chewy bubblegum. Your website can give you access to big customer data if you are willing. If your website company or POS company does not know anything about churning big data into business intelligence then you need a new direction. Send me a private message and I'll give you some hard truths about the future of small business. #businesscoach #onlinemarketing #socialmedia #bigdata

[matthewperosi]

View this post on Instagram

How well do you know the technology behind your own current? You don't need to be a network or computer engineer to keep your business running smoothly. You just need to know the basics like, when to reboot a computer, when to restart the wifi, when to renew your anti-virus, and to check to see that your backup software is running. Your outsourced IT department can't watchdog everything for you, and you wouldn't want to pay them to anyway. You should have someone on staff that is assigned to monitor the things I mentioned above, especially the anti-virus and backups. When technology fails, and it eventually does, you need to rest easy that you took appropriate preventative steps. Your IT person should give you the necessary training, otherwise you need to get help from someone else. #businesscoach #technology #beprepared #backupplan

[matthewperosi]

What's your sales pitch? In 2003 when I joined IJO my sales pitches were only about websites. Now that the internet has matured we know that a website is the cornerstone of every smart business that's staying competitive. Your website isn't just a place to show your products, is now a customer management platform, brand builder, product inventory system, customer service platform, social engagement system, and point of sale system. If your POS is not online, and if your website isn't smart enough to do all the things I mentioned above, then you've it's time for a smart change of direction towards a sustainable business and a smart future. Fancy looking website features won't help you stay in business unless they also offer ways to capture, manage, and understand the big data that's available through the internet of things today. Shifting towards a smart future isn't easy, but then non of the big changes in business are if you perceive them as risky. The old way of business is fading. Embrace a change. Photo: #ijoshow 2005 with me on the right and my business partner George Blair IV on the left. #ijoshow #websites #businesscoach #bigdata

[matthewperosi]

How often do you attend trade conferences to learn new things? It's human nature to want to stay in our own protected little space and continue about our daily lives, but business owners don't have that luxury. Entrepreneurs need to push their limits and learn new things. I encourage all business owners to take the time to read their trade magazines, trade blogs, and to attend at least 2 trade shows per year. Trade shows are the best place to get a quick overview of new ideas that could simplify your process and increase your profits. If your not taking trade shows seriously you are probably falling behind your competitors who do. #businesscoach #tradeshows #learnmore #continuededucation (at Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino)

[matthewperosi]

When was the last time you tried a new idea in your business? RJO brought me in to give free consulting advice to their members. I love sharing my internet wisdom in setting like this because there no pressure. Business owners had the chance to talk to me without worrying about my consulting fees. I can cover a lot of ecommerce pitfalls and hard realities in just a 30 minute conversation that saves months of trial and error. Send me a direct message if you'd like to save some of your own trial and error time. This photo is from 2015 when I was asked to be an expert in the RJO idea center during their trade conference. Look close and you'll see my name at the bottom. #ecommerce #websiteexpert #internetmarketing #businesscoach (at America's Center)

[matthewperosi]

Does your target audience really want the product or service you're selling? When did you last evaluate that? The retail jewelry industry is facing some very hard choices right now. The new target audience doesn't see the value in expensive jewelry because they'd rather buy food and pay other life bills with the hard earned pennies they are making. Meanwhile the older generations are slowing down their jewelry buying. Another negative factor against fine jewelry sales is that people don't get dressed up a lot on a daily basis as most companies allow a casual dress all the time rather than the old "dress down Fridays" that were common 20 years ago. Jewelry stores have become irrelevant as a daily shopping destination for accessories. It's more common for people to buy fashion jewelry from a stand in a department store to match the new outfit they are buying that day. The big question is how can jewelers become relevant again and reconnect with the community they have served for so long? The answer is with your method of branding, specifically heritage branding. Send me a message and I'll explain how small businesses can tap into their store history and create a local spin that can put you back on the relevancy map. #advertising #localbusiness #localmarketing #heritagebranding (at Sapphire Collaborative)

[matthewperosi]

What do you read to keep current with trends and new technology in your industry? I do the research and write a blog about new technology and how best to use it. I call my posts "Golden Nuggets." More than 1560 posts so far that you can find it at www.jwag.biz This is one of my favorite photos from a few years ago when I was speaking about ecommerce at a trade show in Las Vegas. #ecommerce #blogger #internetmarketing #businesscoach (at Golden Nugget Hotel & Casino)

[matthewperosi]

What's the funniest souvenir you've ever seen while traveling? I spotted this cute shirt a few years ago when I was in Kansas presenting my class on how retailers can stay current with social media. It's so difficult for businesses to stay relevant and top of mind with their customers today. Social media is a beautifully colorful world full of wonders, yet there are plenty of dangers of you step off the yellow brick road without the right guide. If your business is struggling to get people through the front door then you need to realize that the black and white customer relationships of yesteryear won't ever come back. There are no ruby slippers that will send you back in time. You have to forge forward with the right guide to help you understand the wonderful world of social media color. #socialmedia #businesscoach #marketingagency #localbusiness (at Wichita Dwight D. Eisenhower National Airport)

[matthewperosi]

Do you care how your computer works on the inside? When I sold computers 20 years ago it was important to build them for specific needs. Even the low end computers today have the horsepower to do almost anything but there's still a difference between how efficiently low and high end computers run your software. Similarly, different website hosting services offer high end equipment to insure your website uptime while other services offer inexpensive or free hosting and put your website at risk. When it comes to computing and the internet, you get what you pay for. You can pay bottom dollar and get bottom quality website software and hosting, or you can choose something more reliable that your business can count on. Give me a call if you have trouble making the right choice for your business' future. #businesscoach #yourfuture #computing #websitehosting

[matthewperosi]

How much do you really know about ecommerce? In my ecommerce and internet seminar I go over many pitfalls that Shopify doesn't tell you. By the time you pay for the extra apps within Shopify to solve these pitfalls you wind up spending a lot more monthly than you ever imagined for your ecommerce website. Ecommerce websites might be easy to set up, but getting them to work correctly is a whole different story, and it's not easy. All those ads touting ecom easy are only referring to the software setup, not the overall reality that it's still time consuming. Frustrated by the ROI of your website? I'm the guy you come to when you want it solved. DM or give me a call. Link in bio #ecommerce #websiteexpert #internetmarketing #businesscoach (at St. Louis)