[...]We are a gaggle of volunteers and opening a new scheme in our community. Your website offered us with helpful information to work on. You’ve performed an impressive task and our entire neighborhood will likely be thankful to you.[...]…

I, too, spend a great deal of time teaching my clients about interactive strategy, online branding, social media and the web overall. It is my hope that if I effectively impart the subtleties and nuances of the space, and help to elevate their thinking on the subject, it will benefit everyone — me in gaining buy in for campaigns [with customers who have a better grasp of the market] and the customers in enhancing their expertise and internal planning practices in devising more targeted/achievable strategies.

It also helps with communications as we are all ‘speaking the same language’ in crafting initiatives aligned with realistic objectives that generate a measurable return.

For me, it is part of my job to make my clients look good with their senior management et al; therefore, it is incumbent upon me to impart as much knowledge as I can so that they are equipped with the tools for success — even outside the scope of our engagement. It’s a partnership, and I believe that if you approach it that way, you build stronger relationships with your customers, develop compelling, more actionable campaigns, and create a blueprint for ongoing results.

Unfortuately, in an oversaturated space where everyone is stepping all over each other for business and share of voice among the same customers, many opt to hold onto that knowledge, concerned that clients will take it elsewhere or that it will mitigate the need for them as service providers. But the old ‘I’m the expert’ paradigm is limited; without the free flowing exchange of information and knowledge, you end up stagnating — vendors, customers, campaigns, etc.

Innovation doesn’t happen in a vacuum. It happens in an open forum, sharing ideas, knowledge and best practices to help identify — and fill in the gaps — to advance to the next level.

At the end of the day, we’re all learning but if we don’t share what we’ve learned as we go along, we all stop learning. And worse, we all stop innovating.

I’d love to have my staff get access, too, as it saves me time having to explain things to them.

I appreciate the kind words, but you also just gave me an idea. I need to record and post the classes to make them available to others who are not local. Look for that from us on the near future!

Craig

Having the right partners (like your company) is not just a “nice thing.” It helps you grow faster and with fewer mistakes along the way.

I’ve learned a lot from you and your team already even though I am not close enough distance-wise to attend your classes, and I appreciate your taking the time through email. I look forward to learning more.

– Anita