Business coach Kenneth Brown's blogs and podcasts pay off
When it comes to technology, there are two types of people in the world - those who embrace it and use it to their full advantage, and those who begrudgingly get by on but the most basic of skills.
Duluth-based business coach Kenneth Brown, owner of E3C Capital Resources, goes out of his way to remain among the former, especially in the area of communicating to current and potential clients. For an entrepreneur whose mission is to help clients grow their businesses, that means investing time to master what is often called the social media - blogs and podcasts.
"I made the commitment to learning to use them as tools to make my business more profitable," he says. "Blogs and podcasts are great ways to communicate your value proposition. They're a way for me to get my message out and for people to find me."
For the uninitiated, a blog is essentially an online journal taking the form of what resembles a Web site. Made popular by people writing about their lives and subjects they care about, businesses hopped on the bandwagon and began communicating the same way. Blogs can be created in as little as 15 minutes and are even easier to maintain. A podcast, meanwhile, is basically a do-it-yourself radio or TV program that airs on the Internet. Podcasting takes more effort but can also be more fun to employ.
Both outlets help boost bottom lines.
"I probably get 40 to 50 new subscribers to my blog every week, and 40 to 50 people download my podcasts each week," Brown says of the people who voluntarily enter his sales pipeline. His subjects range from advice on how to better manage their time to how to close deals.
Brown also relies on other modern communications staples such as Web conferencing that enables him to conduct a coaching session over the Internet rather than driving to the client's location.
"I can conduct five to seven appointments a day without ever leaving my office," he says. "This cuts down my drive time and my expenses, and makes me more profitable and efficient."
Another E3C client favorite is a weekly teleconference designed to allow a small number of people meet each other, work through common business problems, and be of assistance to each other.
"Regular consultations have helped me tremendously," says Cornelius Stephens, a chiropractor and the owner of East Metro Wellness Center in Conyers. "Prior to meeting Ken, I was focused on my patients and had no concept of what makes a business successful. Ken pointed out things I needed to change. The Tuesday calls are very helpful, and the podcasts are, too."
Adds Brown: "There was a time when we didn't have cell phone or fax machines or the Internet. You have to deal with change. You always have to learn and grow, or your business will die."
>> Learn more: Visit www.e3clink.com
