Kamigo Marketing

Crossing the Bridge with Social Media

Tue, 15 May 2012 07:43:00 -0400

Struggling with trying to determine which social networking tools will work for your business? Trying to determine how to manage, measure and make the tools work best for you and your customers? I'll be answering those questions at the Greater Raymond Area Chamber of Commerce this Thursday. Come listen and discuss Crossing the Bridge with Social Media. All are welcome. Here are the details: Date:Thursday, May 17, 2012 Time:9:00 - 10:00 a.m. EST Location: Tucker Lodge #99, 63A Main St., Raymond NH Cost: Free for members. $5.00 USD for Non-members Hope to see you there.

New Hampshire Innovators Gathered

Thu, 12 Apr 2012 14:11:00 -0400

The top and upcoming innovators in New Hampshire gathered on April 11, 2012 for the first Distruptive Innovation event in the state appropriately titled Distruptivate2012! Over 250 of New Hampshire's creatives, change-makers, entrepreneurs, innovators and technologists gathered at the Wentworth By-the-Sea Hotel & Spa to share stories and lessons on the art and practice of disruptive innovation. Tom Elliot of IdeaGreenHouse in Durham told me I "have to be there" and he was right. The day-long event was packed with energy, information and fun. Sandra Proulx-Rand has put together a story of the conversations leading up to and after the event. Check out her story-line.

Drop Technology

Tue, 20 Mar 2012 17:23:00 -0400

Recently, I was discussing with colleagues and friends a few of the larger projects I have been involved with as the project leader and how I have handled some situations. I'll be sharing them through a series of posts. Drop Technology Project managers can successfully manage projects without having the relevant technical knowledge. I frequently find that when one thinks of project management they think of construction or information technology industries and that the manager needs to know everything related to the industry. But, let's look at the skills required in a project manager. The project manager must be self-motivated, have strong people leadership and management and interpersonal skills. They must know how to build a strong cohesive team whether the team is on-site or a remote team across oceans or a combination of both. Communication is the critical component in keeping the team working as a cohesive group, it is the glue the holds the team together. Typically, the manager will spend close to ninety percent of their time on communication, not technical disciplines. The manager will be handling one-on-one, team, in-person and electronic communications to keep the team and the stakeholders informed. What can a Project Manager do to help the team with the technical side of the project? Dinesh Singh, Chief Technology Officer at SJM Technologies gives a great example of what he does for team development and sharing technical knowledge:

I normally encourage structure knowledge sharing sessions where the team voluntarily shares technical and non-technical topics. I coach them about the benefits of the knowledge sharing for individual development and for the team as a whole.

I recall a project I was leading where the team shared their knowledge. We were developing a new product for a hard drive application. I knew little of the hard drive technology at the time, but this was not a barrier to leading the team because the customer knew the requirements our product needed to meet. Our team worked collaboratively with the customer team. Our team goal was to meet the technology, costs, production requirements of the customer and to make a profitable product for our company while serving the customer. My job was to lead the team not the technology. It is the soft skills that a good project manager is gifted with having.

New England Beef to Institution Development Grants Opportunity

Tue, 21 Feb 2012 16:37:00 -0400

The New England Beef to Institution (NEBI) Steering Committee announces the availability of matching grant funds for the purpose of enhancing regional beef and dairy beef producer access or expansion to institutional market outlets in New England. These funds should serve to assist New England producers in the marketing, aggregation, storage, processing, and/or distribution of regionally produced beef by providing them with the coordination and facilities to access an institutional market. A. Available Funds and Timeline An initiative of the Farm to Institution New England (FINE) Collaborative, the NEBI Steering Committee received $10,000 from the John Merck Fund to provide matching grants to encourage the development of the institutional market for New England beef and dairy beef. We are now accepting applications from New England meat producers, slaughter facilities or meat processors, distributors, support organizations and producer or processor groups, for institutional market development. The maximum grant amount is $10,000. Key Dates: March 14, 2012 Proposals Due April 20, 2012 Grantees Notified June 15, 2012 Interim Report Due July 31, 2012* Projects Complete, Final Report Due *Longer projects may be considered B. Eligibility and Program Goals The goal of the NEBI Initiative is to increase the amount of local ground beef entering New England institutions and increase farm viability by offering access to diverse institutional markets. A team of marketing consultants has analyzed institutional demand for New England beef, and assessed feasible models to meet this demand. The study concluded that there are opportunities for growth in the local beef to institutional market in all six New England States, and that there are two models that could be replicated on a regional basis to service this demand: 1) a producer-driven model that is designed for the buyer with decision-making control and a proactive desire to source local beef; and 2) a processor-driven model designed to service buyers constrained by price and institutional requirements. The models create opportunities for beef and dairy producers, as well as processors across New England. The link to the full report can be found online: here Eligibility: New England-based beef or dairy beef producers, processors or distributors in pursuit of institutional market development, or organizations or associations that will directly support New England producers' access to institutional market expansion all qualify for funding consideration. Applicants that represent a partnership of organizations, including farmers and institutions, are highly encouraged. One lead organization that will coordinate grant activity and act as fiscal agent must be identified. Eligible uses of funds for increasing institutional market access include: Market Access and Development – e.g. coordination of or attendance at matchmaking events or trade shows, subsidizing samples or transportation costs during the start-up phase, consumer education, web platform development Planning – e.g. feasibility studies, processor enterprise analysis Infrastructure Development – e.g. capital improvements, equipment purchases Match requirements: All applicants must demonstrate matching funds representing 50% of total project costs. For instance, for a $10,000 project, applicants must demonstrate $5,000 in match on a $5,000 grant request. Eligible match sources can include: your own capital, outside investment capital, grants from private or public sources. The matching funds must be directed to the same project for which you are requesting grant funds. Up to 100% of match support can come in the form of in-kind time and services related to the institutional market development activities. Contact me for the full application if you are eligible.

NH Women in Agriculture Conference

Wed, 18 Jan 2012 11:15:00 -0400

Sign up now. Whether you are a farmer, technical or business service provider, supplier, or a fan of farmers you don't want to miss the NH Women in Agriculture Conference coming to Manchester in February. The keynote speaker is my friend, Dafna Michaelson, who will "knock the socks" off you with real stories of ordinary people doing extraordinary things. Her keynote will include a supportive environment to grow business ideas that benefit community. The conference doesn't stop with Dafna, it includes a farmer panel of three fantastic women that will share their experiences with starting and operating their businesses and how they connect to the land and their communities. Meet the panelists: - Donna Ducharme, Snow Dragon Mountain Farm - Mary Boucher, Boucher's Greenhouse - Renee Cantara, New Roots Farm Following that is the Value-Added panel with a group of entrepreneur panelists each owning and operating a value-added business. Meet the panelists: - Jenny Chartier, Abigail's Bakery - Jenny Taper, Via Lactea Farm - Annette Lee, Throwback Brewery The conference in on February 3, 2012 from noon to 5 p.m. at the Farm and Forest Expo at the Radisson Hotel and Conference Center in Manchester. For more information and to sign up click here

Five Trends to Watch for 2012 in the Northeast

Thu, 29 Dec 2011 13:23:00 -0400

The business world is filled with predictions of trends for 2012 and here is my list of five trends. My list is focused on the northeast region of the United States. I think it is presumptuous for someone to state a trend will be the same across the globe, but regionally common trends can spot the globe so these may apply in other regions too. Five Trends to Watch for 2012 in the Northeast Foodsheds Farmers and food producers will work towards establishing more foodsheds based on defined regions that supply fresh, nutrient rich food to the community. The collaboration of farmers, processors, distribution channels and marketers will bring efficiencies to the localvore market pushing "local" from a movement to the way shoppers think, act and buy everything from apples to zucchini. Next Level Local This will happen with increased education and awareness. Communications about such topics as the costs of the carbon footprint of an overseas shipment, the quality of life of small business growth in a community or the research and entrepreneur partnerships within local universities will increase. The ability for local economies to educate the greater consumer community of the effects on their spending and the new ideas being generated will result in conversations within family units to the value and impact of local patronage within their region moving local the the next level. Disengagement of Electronic Social Networks People are increasingly frustrated with the demand of their time and effort on the perceived social push to be active in multiple social network sites and are selectively disengaging. Businesses and organizations will begin to change their emerging media strategies from being everywhere to defining where their customers want them to be and where there is greater gain. Non-profit Shifts As increased pressure for services grow in 2012 and the growing number of non-profits emerge in the region, the ability to fundraise becomes even more difficult. Non-profits will look towards creative ways to gain greater financial stability by building revenue generating products and services to support their mission. Environmental Consciousness As the region experiences the affects of climate change, growing landfills and weakening environmental protections the level of concern will be heightened in 2012. Action will not come from businesses and governments but from individuals. People, many who have never been involved in the environment before, will join together regionally with the opportunities that benefit the environment whether it be through conservation, technology improvements, local ordinances or bringing skills to others to help specific issues. So, there you go, the five trends that in my opinion we will see in the Northeast in 2012. What do you think? Agree or disagree? Let me know! Thank you for reading and a Happy and Healthy 2012!

Sincere Gratitude

Wed, 23 Nov 2011 12:12:00 -0400

I'd like to express my sincere gratitude to you, the readers of this blog. Your commitment to being a socially and environmentally conscious business leader is an inspiration. You are the reason I work to help people like yourself to be successful. Thank you and have a safe and happy Thanksgiving.

Great Idea, Now How to Get it Funded

Wed, 28 Sep 2011 19:16:00 -0400

We have all likely been there, you have a fantastic product idea, you've told your friends and they all say, "I'd buy it." You're charged like a lightning bolt shooting to the ground, except you're not grounded (more about that in a moment). You run full-steam with the idea turning it into a reality with prototype designs, supply and manufacturing logistics and breakeven analysis. You're energized, it's ready for the marketplace you just need cash to set it flying. You hear about crowdfunding and the success it can bring in creating the dream into a reality. You jump on it and the donations flow in as you watch your goal turn to accomplishment. Boom! The money is in and the orders are filled with the manufacturer. Except, what about the packaging, the shipping, the import logistics, the list of customers, the deliveries and what is going to happen next? You have been so focused on the immediate bolt that ran from the idea to the orders you haven't had time to think of the bigger questions. "What is Next?" is the big question because you are back to square one, a lack of money flow. Remember that lightning bolt charging to the ground? Where to turn for financing will depend on where your feet are on the ground. Getting grounded requires a business plan, a plan that lays a path to profitability. I enjoy hiking in the White Mountains of New Hampshire, but I won't venture out into the Whites without being prepared with a plan, same goes for a business. A plan walks you along the path to profitability which in business leads to: 1. Cultivating Strategic Thinking - A product without the business components; personnel, operations, marketing, selling, research and development, manufacturing and financing is just a fictitious widget case study in a higher education business book. Its lacks a life and movement where people combine their hands and minds and work together in a cohesive unit. Walking the path of developing a business plan takes you through the forest landscape where the integral ecology interacts. You explore the vernal pool that brings to life the song of the pickerel frog and you learn how the conifer helps prevent soil erosion and supplies wildlife habitat. A plan requires you to look at the big picture and the small details at the same time. 2. Spotting Potential Challenges - Along the path you identify internal and external threats that if left unidentified may kill your product before it reaches the masses. You look at regulations, patents and legal considerations and determine if bridges need to be built or will you have to bush whack to keep moving forward. 3. Uncovering Money Flows - Rocks and decaying tree limbs along a wooded path hide benefits to the forest cover. Lift up one of those rocks and underneath you may find an eastern red-back salamander whose diet helps keeps pesky insects in line. Just as finding a beneficial under a rock you can uncover methods and funding sources to keep the needed money flowing into your business. Conducting an analysis such as breakeven, needed capital and liquidity helps establish the funding, marketing and sales strategies. Answering questions about how much is needed, how will financial operations be controlled, how much working capital is required, what budgets need to be developed and how will you maintain cash flow and liquidity. 4. Illuminating Customers - Lighting up a customer with a new product can be fairly easy if it's a flashy new tech gadget. Keeping the light shining requires mapping out the course and identifying the supplies you need to make the journey. You determine whom and where the customers are and what buying patterns they tend towards. You learn how they will get to know you and interact with you and what they want next from you. You are prepared to keep going after the initial bolt of energy. It is all outlined in the business plan. Many people look towards the quick financial fix, the miracle magic oil that propels their product into a high demand, record selling, vogue item. A quick fix doesn't last and when you come down from the high you may find yourself alone with empty pockets. Funding for the long-term requires back to the basics planning that sets the course to profitability. If you are lost in the woods with just a caffeinated drink and no water, map or compass to find the way out you will likely require emergency assistance. A business plan will help you understand the bio-region your business lives in and the funding sources to get it funded. The funders will have greater confidence in the business when they know you have the information and analysis done with an outline of your path. Question: Why do you think so many good people go for the quick fix? Leave a comment below or connect on twitter or Facebook. Thanks for reading and commenting. p.s. Need some hands-on, individual help with planning, connect confidentially here.

Get Outside and Create

Wed, 21 Sep 2011 15:52:00 -0400

Changing your physical perspective can have a profound impact on your thoughts and creativity. Try taking a couple of hour's worth of work with you and sit outside away from major distractions such as traffic or construction noise. If possible leave your phone in the office. You will be amazed at what you will accomplish. Now, get outside and create.

Scaling Up: Producing & Processing for the Larger Regional Market

Fri, 26 Aug 2011 18:52:00 -0400

Heads up to Producers, Processors, Wholesalers and Regional Meat Lovers: In the final installment of the 2011 Meat Producer-Processor Workshop Series the focus will be on building stronger Northeast partnerships to serve the broader region. The morning will start with a sneak peek of the New England Beef-to-Institution Marketing Study (which I have been working on with 3 collaborators - Rosalie Wilson, Louise Calderwood & Kate Rumley), which will be released later this fall. We will present some of the key findings and offer some recommendations as the research moves into the implementation phase of the initiative. A panel of producers, processors, distributors and institutional buyers, and moderated by Farm-to-Institution New England will offer some thoughts on accessing the institutional marketplace. After the panel session the workshop will move to Westminster Meats for lunch and a tour of the processing facility. You can find more information and register online: The event is FREE with preregistration – please register by September 5. Register Now! Event Information Date & Time: September 10, 2011, 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM EDT Location: Southeastern Vermont Community Action, 91 Buck Drive, Westminster VT. For more information go to vtblogspot.com Sponsors: VT Agricultural Innovation Center, VT Agency of Agriculture Foods & Markets, NOFA-VT, UVM Center for Sustainable Agriculture, Southeast VT Community Action, Westminster Meats, John Merck Fund, Connecticut Department of Agriculture, Maine Department of Agriculture, Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources, New Hampshire Department of Agriculture Markets and Food, and Rhode Island Division of Agriculture. Register by September 5. Register Now! Image by Melissa Hemken

Green Launching - Segmentation Matters

Mon, 01 Aug 2011 10:35:53 -0400

I've said it before and I'll say it again - Segmentation Matters This was one of the take away at a recent Green Launching Pad's Business Development Seminar attended by over forty green and innovative entrepreneurs at the Idea GreenHouse in Durham, New Hampshire. Steve Casey, President of Rain Consulting spoke to the group about marketing and his six recommendations. Here are my take-away notes on his recommendation on marketing a green product or service. 1. Segment your markets and determine your key phrases. 2. Have website wireframes and a clear next step for visitors whether its to download a white paper, register for a newsletter, download a case study or video. 3. Build communities and lists over time. Don't take short cuts buying lists. 4. Be consistent with inbound marketing. 5. Analytics - do it and pay attention 6. Keep it all manageable. I'd say Steve's outline six good recommendations and remember the emphasis is to focus on market segments.

Green Launching - It's In the Details

Tue, 26 Jul 2011 17:15:00 -0400

It's all in the details whether it's reading financial statements, a blueprint, developing software or growing garlic or launching a green product or service. Detail's matter and that was the take away at today's Green Launching Pad's Business Development Seminar this morning. Patrick Mansfield, Executive VP of Enertrac shared his lessons on marketing a green product. He described three types of customers, each which require different marketing strategies. Here are my take-away notes from his presentation on how to market to: 1. Early Adopters - Hang out where they do on green forums & social networks. 2. Small Business Buyers - Have a website that speaks to them, offer early adopter pricing, give them careful attention and build references. 3. The Big Dogs - Have solid financials, solid product/service performance, perfect references, scaled pricing and continuous development. In each case, the details matter.

Social Entrepreneurs and Innovators

Tue, 19 Jul 2011 11:51:00 -0400

This coming Friday, July 22, 2011 the NH Social Media Breakfast will be hosted at Idea Greenhouse. Kamigo Marketing is proud to be a co-sponsor of this event. The theme for the event is Social Media in Innovation and Entrepreneurship Register Here In addition to remarks from Idea Greenhouse founder Tom Elliot and SMBNH founder Leslie Poston three speakers will share how they use social media to build and promote their startups. Mike Behrmann from Revolution Energy Josh Cyr, founder of Alpha Loft Amy Hall from Granite State Dairy Promotion Here is the agenda: 8:30 - 8:58 a.m. - Networking and Breakfast 8:58 - 9:00 - Opening Remarks by SMBMH Founder Leslie Poston 9:00 - 9:05 - Sponsor Remarks by Idea Greenhouse 9:05 - 9:25 - Josh Cyr, Alpha Loft 9:25 - 9:45 - Michael Behrman, Revolution Energy 9:45 - 10:05 - Amy Hall, Granite State Dairy Promotion 10:05 - 10:30 - Group Q&A with all speakers. Be sure to sign up to attend. Online signup closes on June 21, 2011 Directions and Parking info at this link

Yes, a Handwritten Note

Mon, 20 Jun 2011 10:19:00 -0400

Summer Solstice is here. It's the longest day of the year and a time to take a peek into the future. You can incorporate a tradition of Solstice celebration into your business. Take this day to reflect on your annual plan, to check your mid-year status and to look ahead. To celebrate Solstice it is typical to build a fire and toss in herbs to help with visioning. A bit of lavender helps to understand messages, mugwort enhances inner vision and clove helps one feel safe and steady. The herbs allow the senses to take over, the aroma of the herbs, and the warmth of the fire and the coolness of the earth on your feet. The body sways with the movement of the flames and the music of the surroundings. The mind frees itself opening to seeing what the future will bring. This ceremony lasts all day into the evening; the flames turn to smoldering coals then quenched with water to end the celebration. Whether you incorporate this tradition into your business will depend on your business mission and value, but the point isn't whether you dance to the fire it's that you start celebrating this day in your business. Each year one of the ways, I celebrate Solstice with my customers, stakeholders, network and friends by sending them a handwritten note. Yes, a handwritten note. My handwritten postal cards are sent out with good wishes on Solstice and the days after . I believe taking the time to personally writing each note is important in this day of electronic communications that get lost and forgotten about as quickly as hitting the send button. The cards connect with people at different stratums, some are kept and displayed, others prompt a phone call to me and many find kindness returned to me in words of thanks and gratitude. What will you do to bring Solstice into your business? Image by Cheryl A. Smith

Why Women Make the Best Sales People

Thu, 09 Jun 2011 10:25:00 -0400
Readers and fans. I am excited to bring to you this guest post from my friend Don F. Perkins, an internet marketer, writer, and entrepreneur from New Hampshire and author of the Mindmulch a sales and marketing blog. This is the first of what I hope will be many sales topics from Don as a guest blogger. And yes, that smiling face is Don. Enjoy. Guys: Before you go getting your boxers all in a bunch, the title of this post was just meant to grab you and slap you up side the head. Yes, you. It was meant to draw you in and make you think for a minute. It's not meant to be a slam toward anyone. Cool? Ladies: Before you start thinking your all that and go getting all puffed up and arrogant, the tile was also meant to bring you here for some sales think tank too. Maybe you're really good at sales, but could you improve? Can we talk? There's a debate online about who are the better sales executives, men or women. When I think of all the sales people I know, there are extremely good sales people of either gender that I have great respect for, so the whole question is really kind of silly. What's important and instructive though is to consider the strengths that people bring to the job, regardless of gender and how those can help us get more of what we want. I know some men who are great at building things, solving problems, hunting down and bagging opportunities. I know women who do this too, some of them much better than their male counterparts. Not everyone has these abilities and they are vital to the sales process. I know some women who are profound nurturers. They are incredible at building relationships and creating unity. I also know some great men who do this, way better than their spouses. This too is incredibly important to sales success. I know a lot of people who spend little if any time thinking about how they're wired and I know very few people who possess both of these bents together. Here's what I think about a lot: Whatever your personal bent and your greatest strength, it's not good enough. It doesn't complete the set. I've only mentioned two aspects of personality. There are many more. The greatest success comes when we partner up with people much different than us; when we appreciate the differences in each other (instead of dividing over them) and we make a strong effort to enable each other to shine. When we honor, respect and learn from each other, that's when the planets align and crazy success comes our way. Who makes the best sales people? Those who recognize their own strengths and weaknesses and work toward synergy with others who possess the strengths they don't.