FIR Interviews

The numbers are in and, well, when it comes to loving work, things aren’t looking so hot.

More than half of us aren’t happy with our jobs says a Conference Board report.

To add insult to injury, 79% of people who quit their jobs do so because they don’t feel appreciated.

According to a Harvard Business Review survey, 58% of us more comfortable trusting strangers than our own boss.

Strangers!

It’s not shocking most workers hate their jobs.

But what do you do if you’re the boss?

Who do you turn to and how do you fix things?

It can feel like you’ve backed yourself into a corner.

Plus, it’s incredibly discouraging to feel like you’re doing everything you possibly can to make your team happy only to read stats like these.

Who’s taking care of you?

What Happens If Your Boss is Miserable, and You’re the Boss?

It seems like everything we read about entrepreneurship tells us we should be happy.

We’ve achieved one of our dreams so why on earth would we not? How could we not be passionate about our career?

But this isn’t true.

There are times when we need to put ourselves first in order to make sure the rest of our team gets what they need too.

In this episode of the Spin Sucks podcast, we talk about what to do if you don’t like your boss, but the boss is you.

The Spin Sucks Podcast

Today’s show covers:

* Why you don’t have to work 24/7 to love your job as a boss

* What makes us get sucked into thinking we should sacrifice everything in the first place

* Why the slow times in your organization can sometimes feel like the end of the world

* How to delegate, delegate, delegate

* Tools you can use to help categorize your tasks and make your life easier

Are You the Boss?

Even if you achieved the ultimate dream of running an agency or organization in an industry we’re passionate about, it’s OK to feel like you need a breather.

Do you ever wish you loved your job more? What do you do to get out of those slumps? Tell us in the comments or over in our Spin Sucks community.

We can’t wait to hear from you.

Until next time!

Everyone loves a vacation.

You get to unplug, spend time with friends or family, and best of all … RELAX.

We all know vacations are good and that we actually need one on a regular basis.

They allow us to refill the proverbial “creative tank” and return to work refreshed and ready to dig in.

Of course, all of that goes out the window if you return to a million fires to put out, client emergencies to take care of, and the occasional angry glance from a coworker who’s been doing extra work since you’ve been away.

Relaxed? Who’s relaxed now?

Regardless of what you return to, you still need time off.

Here’s how to prepare for a return to the office without tossing your relaxing vacation vibes right into the trash.

Why an Unplugged Vacation is Important

Please don’t ever tell me you love your job so much you don’t mind working 24/7, even while on vacation.

It forces me to try really hard not to roll my eyes.

No matter what you think, our brains are not meant to work all the time.

We are not robots.

It’s part of the reason we aren’t nearly as productive if our brains are tired.

There are major benefits of taking just a few days off and completely unplugging from your job.

The Spin Sucks Podcast

In this episode of the podcast we talk about:

* How unlimited vacation works for us at Spin Sucks

* Why everyone needs an unplugged vacation

* How you can manage your tasks while you’re away or when employees take time off

* Why lists, handover meetings, and more are so important for everyone in the office

What are the vacation policies in your organization?

Do you truly unplug when you take time off?

Let us know your thoughts in the comments!

One of the very first things you see when you visit Spin Sucks is, “Emails suck. Ours don’t.”

So you might assume we’re proponents of email marketing.

And you’d be right.

Yet, not all content creators and communications pros feel the same. 

Some of them shout from the rooftops, “Email is a waste of time! Nobody gets anything out of opt-ins!”

The other side stands their ground and shouts back, “You all are crazy! We shouldn’t give everything away for free! If you’re a real communications pro, you would even collect emails!”

It never ends.

The purpose of most emails is to drive traffic and business outcomes.

And no matter whether some experts claim email marketing has gone the way of the dinosaur, I’m willing to bet they have a newsletter opt-in lurking somewhere on their site.

Email’s convenient.

It gives us exposure to potential clients with a few clicks and, to top it all off, it’s useful.

BUT…

Not all email marketing is created equal.

To be fair, a lot emails actually do suck.

But that doesn’t mean yours has to.

And that’s what I’m talking about on this episode of the Spin Sucks Podcast.

Why Your Emails Don’t Have to Suck

Here’s what we cover:

* Best practices for email marketing

* Nailing the content of your emails

* Why you shouldn’t worry about open rates

* Creating clear calls-to-action

* Email mistakes to avoid

* Editing, editing, and more editing

Your Turn

Where do you stand on email marketing? Are you a staunch believer that it’s a waste of time? Maybe we can change your mind.

Check out the latest episode of the podcast and let us know your thoughts.

I used to create content for Spin Sucks on a daily basis.

It makes me sad that I don’t anymore, but we changed our content strategy.

And while, yes, I do miss it, I now have a large chunk of my time freed up to focus on other aspects of our organization.

I’m not alone in my love for creating content, but I also know not everyone enjoys the process.

If you’re someone who hates the thought of writing articles or graphic design and constantly click over to YouTube to watch videos of kids falling over, it’s OK.

You’re not alone.

Some of us don’t like the process of creating content, while others cringe at the thought of editing and revising.

Then there are some of us who just hit a mental block every time we have to come up with ideas.

If you fall in that last group, you’re in luck.

No Magic Tricks for Creativity

Whether you like it or not, if you’re a communications professional, content creation is one of your main roles.

It doesn’t matter which part of the PESO model you focus on.

Sure, you might not create all the content, but you still have to communicate.

It’s pretty safe to assume, as a comms pro, you’ve also felt what it’s like when you’re on a creativity roll and the juices are flowing.

Those days are awesome and that feeling is amazing.

But what about the days your creative tank is sitting on “E” and it seems like every idea you think of just doesn’t work?

That’s when we start to question whether or not this is even the industry for us.

Unfortunately, that deadline isn’t going to stop getting closer, even if it feels like your brain is going in reverse.

But! I have good news.

Today’s podcast is just for you because I’m offering lots of ideas to—well … generate ideas.

The Spin Sucks Podcast on Content Generation

Here’s what you’ll learn on this week’s podcast:

* How to generate content from other departments

* How to get ideas by focusing on something else

* How to find content ideas from your community and competitors

When you think about Instagram, you probably get a picture of foodies snapping perfectly-lit dinner photos, boyfriends taking a million pictures of their girlfriends in just the right pose, or makeup and beauty gurus trying to catch a ride on the influencer train.

In reality, there are many organizations from all sorts of sectors that use Instagram for business. They treat it as a platform to reach their audiences, customers, and community.

But what if your organization isn’t what you’d consider a creator of “visual” content?

What if you don’t have a physical product you sell?

Is Instagram still for you?

YES!

Did you know the platform is projected to account for a quarter of all of Facebook’s ad revenue by the end of 2019, and nearly a third in 2020, according to Sprout Social?

Did you also know that more than 80% of the accounts on the platform follow at least one business account?

Instagram remains a social media rising star, and with the right business strategies, it can work for you too.

If you haven’t used it in forever or don’t know where to start, don’t worry, we’re talking about strategies to use Instagram for business in this edition of the Spin Sucks Podcast.

The Spin Sucks Podcast on Instagram for Business

In this episode you’ll learn:

* Why the Instagram Story feature has become the social network’s powerhouse

* How to use the Stories to increase engagement

* How to make the most of your hashtags

* Off-platform linking and how it works on this Instgram

* How to incorporate Instagram into your social media strategy

 

 

 

To outsource? Or not to outsource?

That…is the (entrepreneur’s) question.

If you’re a business owner, chances are the decision of whether or not to outsource talent is something you grapple with all the time.

Do you recruit, hire, and train a fulltime team member?

Or do you find a specialist from outside your organization?

What are the benefits and challenges of each approach?

Outsourcing Talent: The Good and the Bad

When your current team is running out of bandwidth, or when it seems like there are lots of new business opportunities just beyond your reach, that may be a good time to bring on another staff member.

But sometimes it makes more sense to test the waters by outsourcing a specific part of your business.

There are many functions you may not want to handle in-house:

* Does your company really need a full-time payroll or HR person?

* Bookkeepers?

* What about someone to run paid ads or buy media?

* Content writers?

* Graphic designers?

* Assistants?

How to Determine What to Outsource and What to Keep

This week we’re talking about strategies to consider when you look at your company’s strengths and needs, to understand which tasks you can outsource and which you should keep.

You might be surprised by how many of the “essential” duties might be better performed by someone outside your firm.

However, there are some key elements like business strategy and customer engagement that you should never give away.

Do you outsource talent? How do you determine your needs?

Share your answers in the comments below.

 

 

Have you ever compared client onboarding to a digital purchase?

Probably not.

But there are similarities.

It’s safe to say most of us are familiar with buying products online, right?

Everything from books to clothing to decor is all delivered directly to our door.

And it’s not just products.

Most of our services are purchased digitally, too.

We research potential providers on the internet, schedule our calls and meetings with online tools, and use digital signatures to sign contracts over the web.

Suffice it to say, making digital purchases is nothing new anymore.

Because of this, you think we’d understand how odd it feels to buy something and receive a purchase confirmation, only to find nothing happens next.

The customer just sits there with a digital receipt in front of them, unsure of what to expect.

Now, of course, there’s a lot of hustle and bustle going on behind the curtains, but they can’t see that. So, what are customers supposed to do?

The Importance of Extraordinary Onboarding

A couple of weeks ago, we talked about amping up our client services. This week we want to dig more into the onboarding process for clients.

Let’s take a look at the specific actions, mindsets, and processes we use to onboard clients.

From there we’ll dig into what we need to do to go from okay to above and beyond with client onboarding experiences.

The Spin Sucks Podcast

In this episode we’ll discuss:

* Setting client onboarding expectations

* Keeping the process moving

* Ensuring your team up to speed

* Adding some fun into the experience for your new client

If you’ve spent any time with the Spin Sucks team, you know all about the PESO model.

No need for me to go into detail about how you should use it.

I won’t talk about how owned content is the foundation of your efforts.

Nor will I discuss how your expertise and your search engine results are both enhanced by earned media.

I won’t even talk about how paid media can help you up your game, improve what’s already working, and how you can seem more human and authentic to your audience.

No, no. No need for that.

Instead, today we’re going to take some time to take a closer look at how to combine earned and owned content and how you can get the most out of both.

Of course, each element of the PESO model works fine on its own, but integrating them in a strategic communications plan is when the magic really starts to happen.

The Spin Sucks Podcast

In this episode of the Spin Sucks Podcast you’ll learn:

* How to connect your efforts into an integrated PESO model

* How to choose keywords to bolster your efforts

* Ways to divide your ideas into usable categories for content

* How to create large amounts of content

Referrals are often considered the cream of the crop in any service business.

They come to you directly, have already been vetted, and the best part? Prospects are ready to buy.

This helps clear out time for you to focus on the clients you already have and you don’t have to worry about sticking a specific business development plan.

Many organizations claim to be completely referral grown. That’s awesome for them if it’s true, but it’s usually not a strategy most would recommend.

With Referrals, You Have No Control

You can’t control when referrals come in and that makes it hard to plan for the future.

Of course, none of this is to say you shouldn’t accept referrals, because you definitely should.

Just be sure to not rely on referrals and referrals alone.

Clients are the best place to start when you build your networks.

Plus, you can make it easy and even fun for them to refer you.

When you have a plan, you can increase the chances of clients and partners actually referring you, and then you can count on referrals to represent a good chunk of your growth.

The Spin Sucks Podcast

In this week’s podcast you’ll learn about:

* The myths about referrals

* How to ask for referrals strategically

* How to time your referral requests

* Real-world examples of great referral requests

What’s your take on referrals? Do you have any tried and true methods for referral requests? We’d love to hear about them!

Tell us here in the comment or join the Spin Sucks Community on Slack.

You’ll be hard pressed to find a company that doesn’t tout their customer service skills.

All of them say it and all of them believe it.

If that’s the case though, why do so many of us have personal customer service horror stories?

Why is bad customer service such a common gripe?

It’s mostly because customer service is a lot easier to talk about than do.

It only takes a few seconds to type out a sentence about how great your customer service is, but actually providing that customer service over an extended period is a much bigger challenge.

It’s still possible and that’s what today’s podcast is all about.

Ways to Maintain Customer Service

Let me guess. Your customers are never upset with the quality of service you provide.

In fact, they’re talking about it with every person they happen to meet.

Right?

No way. Nobody is perfect.

Everyone makes mistakes and sometimes those errors involve less than stellar customer service.

But there’s hope.

Here are five ways you can consistently provide the possible service over time.

Customer Service and the Big Picture

So often the way serve our customers is further down on our list of priorities than it should be.

We all spend so much time attracting new customers that it’s easy to forget how much value the customers we already have bring to the table.

Make sure you keep your current customers happy and serve them to the best of your ability.

Establish Boundaries

This might sound confusing.

But whatever service standards you agree to become your boundaries, and you should work to maintain those boundaries.

Stick to your schedule.

If you’re closed on evenings and weekends, try not to answer emails or phone calls during those ties.

Have you agreed to a certain number of deliverables? Great! Provide that number and not more.

Maybe you have specific times blocked out for meetings and direct communication.

If so, that’s how long you should spend on it.

This helps add to your customer service in a few ways:

* It means you’re clear about what you’re doing and when you’re doing it. Everyone loves clarity.

* Boundaries require your customers to respect your time. (It’s MUCH easier to be nice to someone who respects your time!)

* Having boundaries preserves your energy as well as your team’s. This means they can devote their full attention to delivering great customer service.

Be Consistent In Your Communication

Like most industries, the communications world has its own vocabulary.

Within those industries, companies use their own terms and definitions for different concepts.

On top of that, organizations have their own methods for dealing with questions, collaboration, and feedback.

Imagine how frustrating it is to not understand how you should get support on an issue you’re experiencing.

It’s annoying and that annoyance tends to be talked about quite a bit.

We have to remember that most of our customers aren’t used to the same industry jargon we use in our everyday work-lives.

And they shouldn’t have to know our language. They have other priorities.

It does mean, however, that it’s on you as their service provider to be clear and consistent so they know what to expect.

The Curse of Knowledge

It’s important to also remember you have the curse of knowledge.

This means because you’re front and center with your industry knowledge, it’s easy to forget that everyone else is operating on the same level of knowledge as you.

I like to use the grandmother test.

I find that if I can explain something I’m doing to my grandmother and she understands it,