Don Schindler

Executive Reputation Coach & Digital Marketer

Month: February 2014

case+system

What’s the best iphone case? I really like Case+ System

February 26, 2014 / / 0 Comments
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My Case+ Car System in the dash of my truck

I’m a pretty cheap guy. My wife can attest to this fact.

If I can find a free or inexpensive version of something, I’ll spend more time and energy to find the free version then just to pay for it in the first place.

So when it comes to iPhone cases – I simply don’t pay a lot. If it is plain and simple (I’m not a fan of overly-designed, unique cases my daughters love), then I’ll pick it up.

But then I was given the Case+ system as a reward for doing some work for a friend. I reviewed a cool new product that I’ll tell you about when it gets released. I think you’ll love it.

Anyway, I got this Case+ system in the mail the other day. It was something that I would have never bought myself because I didn’t think I needed it.

Wow, did I ever need this.

First, let’s talk about the case. It’s solid with rubber on the ends and brushed metal in the middle. I have never seen a case like this and immediately I fell in love with it.

Let me tell you why. Because it’s as nice as the iPhone itself.

I hate putting a case on my iPhone. I think it really ruins the feel of the product. But I’m also a dropper. Remember that from “Friends” when they are throwing the ball around the apartment all day and Chandler wants to play to.

Well, I hate to admit it but I drop stuff all the time and I really don’t like buying new phones so I have to have a case.

And cheap cases make my phone feel cheap. Hate that. This case+, not so much. Top end feel.

But metal does more than just look good. It’s functional, too.

This is where the foldy stand (just like I have for my iPad) fits. You see it has this little folding panel that snaps on and can stand the phone up so I don’t have to hold it all the time. It also folds up to hold my headphones (suggestion from my friend who gave it to me) and I can hold my iPad pen (which I’m always losing in my bag).

But the metal also works with the car stand. Now I used to not need a car stand because I didn’t have much of a commute to work. But nowadays with a 30 minute commute on a good day, the stand works out perfectly in my truck.

Instead of trying to hold the phone and navigate my podcasts and music with my thumb, I just put it on the stand and it locks right down. I can easily see the screen (when I’m stopped at a red light) and just touch what I need vs. picking it up and fumbling around (remember I drop stuff).

I do think my favorite part of the Case+ system is the battery. Wow, why have I been killing myself for so long looking for power at every airport or conference room?

Or why have I stopped using my phone because I’m stuck in a cab or have forgotten my power cable at home?

The battery pack (which doesn’t look like a humpback whale on my phone when plugged in) is awesome and clicks right in. You don’t even have to take the case off to charge it. The design is ingenious and I totally recommend getting the system for the battery alone.

Anyway, I just wanted to say that I never realized how awesome a iPhone case could be until I got the Case+ system. You definitely need to check it out if you haven’t already.

Do you have a favorite iPhone case? Would love to hear about it.

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Photo courtesy of jinterwas via Flickr Creative Commons

What Can A Kids’ Game and a Mommy Monkey Teach You About Your Message?

February 19, 2014 / / 0 Comments
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Photo courtesy of jinterwas via Flickr Creative Commons – I know this is a gorilla not a monkey.

Remember that game we used to play as kids called “operator”.

You know, where one kid would tell the first kid, “Mommy told me to go to the store for milk.”

Then the next kid passes the statement along to the next and when it finally gets back to the kid that started the whole thing and the sentence has turned into “Mommy Monkey sells a torn pink silk”.

How’d you get that?

This reminded me of a valuable lesson in marketing messages.

It isn’t what we say. It’s what the audience hears.

Let me say that again because it’s very important.

It isn’t what we say. It’s what the audience hears.

And in this day and age with social media, the audience can easily pass along your message (and you want your advocates to do so) but the message can get distorted.

So you need to be tracking your messages – searching for them on the web and via social media channels – so you can correct it if it gets out of whack.

In fact the FTC wants to you to know that you need to be correcting misinformation.

And when your message is seen by people who are skeptical, you really need to make sure you are available to them if they have questions about your message.

Their interpretation of your message and how it made them feel is the most important thing. So when you get feedback on your message through conversations take it seriously.

You definitely don’t want that Mommy Monkey on your back.

Have you experienced a message that got out of control or was misinterpreted? Want to tell me about it?

childontractor

Image courtesy of Cut Out Witch

Farming deserves more respect – so how do you get that respect in this new world of communication?

February 11, 2014 / / 0 Comments
childontractor

Image courtesy of Cut Out Witch

Recently, Blake Hurst wrote an article on “Farming Deserves More Respect“. I get that and I agree.

And like Blake, I grew up on a Missouri farm. It was opposite side of the state – the southeast corner.

In the beginning of the article, he speaks about learning how to farm from his dad.  Well, I learned by sitting on the fender watching my grandpa.  So we have that in common, too. Granted I got out of farming when I was 18 (joined the service).

Blake’s post is on point and I believe that farmers think they need more respect – especially when it comes to online conversations.

But I would say that farmers get a lot of respect – seen below in Gallup’s Poll farmers rank 3rd overall just behind the computer and restaurant industries.

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Courtesy of Gallup

And if you look at Edelman’s latest Trustbarometer, I would consider farmers small businessman and people like yourself – both ranked very high.

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Edelman’s Trustbarometer 2014 – you need to check it out.

Why do you think the Super Bowl has a least one or two commercials ($4 million dollar commercials) that focus on farmers.

You are hardworking, smart, down-to-earth, common sensical individuals. Rugged. Every man and woman wants that respect.

So why don’t the conversations online reflect that respect when it comes to growing and producing our food?

I believe it’s because there is a lack of farmer voice.

There’s a void of farmers in the conversations that are happening and when that occurs people that have no problem joining the conversation with a different viewpoint can dominate.

Now I know a lot of farmers and agriculture support people that are online and are engaging in the best of ways. But we need more voices. If you want to be heard and have your expert opinion out for others to see, then you have to join the conversation using the tools that our customers are using.

You can’t afford for these conversations to continue without you being there.

I don’t understand the tools.

You can figure out how to run a farm, take care of the cows, do two milkings a day, and forecast your business needs for the future but you’re unsure about using Twitter? Well, I’m here to help with a tutorial but I’ll bet you’ll be joining the twitter conversation in a matter of minutes if you take the time. And there are many farmers out there that can help you with them as well like Dairy Carrie or Tim Zweber.

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Tim showing cows in the winter – people love seeing cows.

I’m too busy.

Yes, you are really busy. But I would bet that if one of your customers would stop by the farm to ask you a few questions about how milk is made, you would be more than happy to stop what you are doing and answer them. You might even give them a tour around the place, right? Well, answering questions online is a heck of a lot less detrimental to your schedule. Just ask Will Gilmer or Karen Bohnert.

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Karen Bohnert takes some great pics on the farm.

I don’t want to call attention to myself.

While I have yet to see a farm get in the crosshairs of opponents to our industry because of their online conversations, I will say that I would be more inclined to pick on someone that doesn’t have a large following online then someone who does. Will you have detractors? Yes. Will they engage with you online? Probably. Will you know how to deal with it? With practice it will get easier. I have several posts about how to engage in tough conversations online but if you remain positive and open it will work out much better than you think. I know several farmers who really know how to handle the tough conversations like Ray Prock and Mike Haley.

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Mike Haley on AgChat discussing positive discusions online

We are a team and we need you.

There are hundreds of farmers and agriculture support people online but we could always use more. Why? Because the online conversations are massive – there are hundreds of millions of people online raising questions, looking for answers, looking to connect with the experts that grow, raise and produce our food. If you aren’t there to help answer them, someone else will. Someone who has never been in your boots, never been on your farm, never cared about the food like you do.

Want to learn how to use those customer communications tools?

Here’s a few to get you started.
Facebook
Twitter
Linkedin
YouTube

If you want a class on something I don’t have yet, let me know. I’ll do my best to get it done.

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