The Mentor in Your Business Career

Johann Lohrmann is an award-winning business analyst who specializes in increasing a company’s bottom line through strategic planning, analysis and creative thought. He holds a BA in Communications.

Dictionary.com defines a mentor as:

1. a wise and trusted counselor or teacher.
2. an influential senior sponsor or supporter.

My first professional job was with WTVI-TV. WTVI-TV is a PBS affiliate and one of the best lessons I learned was the power of mentorship. There, I was surrounded by award-winning talent that included writers, directors, producers and crew. These were guys who had decades of experience.

The job of the mentor is to serve as a guide. He is there to support and offer his wisdom. He’s also required to learn from his protégé. Now, it sounds odd to think of a mentor learning from his protégé but think about it for a minute. Would you want a mentor who is not open and capable of learning?

The job of the protégé is to listen and ask questions. He is charged with learning as much as he can on his own and from his mentor. He is required to teach his mentor what he knows.

Remember, that one day the protégé will become a mentor. The best case scenario for a mentor/protégé relationship is where both are direct, open and leave their egos at the door.

Interested in learning more about mentoring? Check out these sites.

• http://www.mentoring.org/
• http://thementornetwork.com/
• http://internships.about.com/od/internships101/tp/MentQualities.htm

Johann Lohrmann
The Useful Research Blog | Effective research that you can use.
https://johannlohrmann.wordpress.com/
http://johannlohrmann.com/

Top 10 Reasons Why You Need Market Research

1. The Age. This is the information age. You need information to do your job. Without information, you’re driving in the dark. Without headlights. And that’s dangerous.

2. The Right Information. You need access to the right information. Just because it’s online doesn’t mean it’s accurate. Market Research sifts through the information overload and the clutter. It brings you closer to your goal.

Atlanta Market Research Imagination

3. Pity the Imagination. The information you think is right may not be. Use your imagination as a part of the creative process. Use Market Research to drive your business.

4. Where’s your Audience? You won’t find your audience by simply declaring you’re open for business. How do you know where your audience lives? You have to ask. And a Market Researcher knows how to ask.

5. The Resources. A Market Researcher has accesses to public, private and pay for information databases, archives and analytical tools. We’ve already navigated through the mining field. That’s one of our strengths. This means you can now fully focus on your strengths and grow your business.

Atlanta Market Research Resources

6. Your Imaginary Moving Targets. How do you know what to shoot for if you don’t have a baseline? Market Research provides a baseline, benchmark and a target. Otherwise, any path will take you there. And the last thing you need is to wander around the forest alone.

7. Reach Your Audience. Your clients want to know that you think of them beyond a payment plan. Understand your client’s market place, help them grow and they’ll stay with you. Market Research knows your client’s industries and their verticals as well. After all, solutions from one industry can apply to others.

8. Show You Care. It’s easy to collect a paycheck or two. Show that you really care about your clients by caring about their market space.

Atlanta Market Research Your Path

9. Strengthen Your Position. When you know your market then you can increase awareness about your market. That means your advertising, web pages, social media, blogs and your community outreach gets stronger and better.

10. Know Where You’ve Been. Anticipate where you’re going. Market research gives you insight to where you, your industry and your competition have been. When you know where you’ve been you’ll be able to spot the patterns for the future.

Do you need Market Research? Are you sure that it’s effective and increasing your bottom line?

Johann Lohrmann Director of Research
Bringing Research to Life for Businesses
johannlohrmann(at)gmail.com
http://www.linkedin.com/in/johannlohrmann
http://twitter.com/proresearch
http://www.atlantamediaresearch.com/

Do Keyword Clouds have an impact on SEO?

A question was posed today by a co-worker concerning Keyword Clouds.

The Question: Do Keyword Clouds have an impact on SEO? Joomla’s K2 Tags is a tool that uses keyword clouds.

The Answer:

A keyword cloud is essentially a link to relevant pages on a website. You may also use a keyword cloud based on popularity. Remember though, keyword research is about relevancy and then popularity. It’s typically not based on popularity first and then relevancy. I’ve attached some images of what a keyword cloud looks like.

Keyword Clouds can have an impact on SEO- provided it is done correctly.

Things to keep in mind:

1. Keyword clouds are really links to relevant information on your website;
2. Avoid the urge to use too many words in your cloud. It will look like keyword stuffing;
3. Use the keyword clouds sparingly. Reason? Think aesthetics- as too much can confuse the site visitor. It can also work against you in terms of again, keyword stuffing.

Sample of Keyword Cloud

Sample of Keyword Cloud, Neatly Organized

Sample of Keyword Cloud, Artistic Layout

Sources & Excellent Reading Material

• Tag Clouds & SEO | Position 2 Blog: http://blogs.position2.com/tag-clouds-and-seo
• YouTube – Do tag clouds help or hinder SEO?
  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bYPX_ZmhLqg&feature=player_embedded

Johann Lohrmann
http://www.linkedin.com/in/johannlohrmann
twitter.com/proresearch
http://www.atlantamediaresearch.com/

Google Webmaster Central Channel | Surround and Intent Marketing Blog | Joomla! SEO K2 Tags

Sharing Information

Information changes lives. It can provide a non-profit with access to funds. It can do the same for the struggling college student. It can shed light on a previously unidentified vertical. When I first discuss research with my clients some of them are very protective of their information.

Yes, some information needs to be protected and there are private matters that remain so. But, there are other times when information needs to be shared.

This really is about intent. If you want to help someone, do it. You’ll find it gives you a shot of confidence and it does the same for the person in need. It moves them closer to their target. That’s good for business and it’s good for relationships.

Being stingy with information hurts you. It’s selfish and will kill your business. Trust me, I’ve seen this numerous times.

Think of how information has helped you. Information probably helped you land your job. It helped you push through some of the tougher moments in your life. Information helps you grow and adapt. Yes, Information is power. Share your knowledge.

Johann Lohrmann
www.atlantamediaresearch.com
Bringing Research to Life for Businesses

Just Seize the Day, Will Ya?

One of my friends frantically called me the other day. It was work related and she was under the gun. From the tone of her voice I knew it was important. She asked for my help and when a friend asks for help, you’re there. Foxhole and all.

Being the research wonderboy that I am, I listened and then told her the search terms to use. I then walked her through the process on how to find exactly what she wanted. If she doesn’t know what to research, then she probably does not know how to use the right tools.

Research involves strategy and the ability to communicate one’s thoughts. Maybe that communication comes in the form of a video, an article, a giant spreadsheet complete with graphs and charts. The goal is to put research into action. (Industry folks know this as actionable research and actionable intelligence).

Even though it was an easy find for me it was a difficult find for my friend. Then again, I’m not an nurse and there is zero chance that I would ever find nursing as a reasonable career move. My friend did the right thing. She knew she had to find something and she called me. What she didn‘t do was quit.

A good researcher will not quit and will not give up. If he doesn’t find the information then he will continue to dig. He also knows how to find someone who can help him.

Of course, this applies to every day life. Sure all of us have had an economically rocky couple of years. But, you don’t quit. You keep plugging away and following that precious strategy.

Researching at the Library of Congress

For those of you who are so privileged to have visited the Library of Congress, congratulations. For those of you who have either vacation time, time to kill or are simply curious, have you ever considered researching at the Library of Congress. It’s in DC and I’m sure you’d find the adventure rather enjoyable.

Of course for those of you who enjoy a certain type of staycation, then simply find your laptop and start the adventure there.

So, what makes the LOC so much fun? Well, there are thousands of stills (photos), maps, documents, webcasts, sheet music and manuscripts.

Some of the more famous collections include:

• African and Middle Eastern Materials
• Asian Materials
• European, Iberian, Latin American and Caribbean Materials
• Law Library
• Rare Books and Manuscripts
• Presidential Papers
• Gutenberg Bible
• American Folklife Center and Veterans History Project
• Comic Books and Newspapers
• Cartography
• Scientific and Technical Information

Visit the Library of Congress website to learn more. There are also resources for kids, families, librarians, publishers, researchers, visitors and if you don’t happen to fall in any of those categories, visitors.

One of my favorites? The Veterans History Project. If you have an interest in preserving the stories of veterans, then please contact them.

You’ll be glad you did. Here are two images to enjoy.

Blue grotto, Capri Island, Italy

Orphans Going to Coney Island in Autos 1911

 

The Source

My grandfather was an expert when it came to making furniture. He converted the garage into a nice workspace and frequently he would make for us a table and a set of chairs. It was strong, sturdy and reliable. He was a master craftsman and it showed. He used the best wood and had the best tools. They weren’t shiny and new but they were durable.

Business research works in the same way. There are sources that are tried and proven but trouble starts when you veer off course. As a research analyst, there is nothing quite as frustrating as someone ‘finding’ information that is old, unreliable and unproven. Here are three ways to ensure that your sources are reliable and effective.

1. Remain neutral

This isn’t a game of bingo and chances are slim that your first source will be the perfect fit or answer all your questions. It’s easy to find information. But the information needs to answer the question and provide toward a workable solution. Remaining neutral means leaving the emotions out of the equation. Look at the information. Analyze it. It must not only answer your question but it must provide an added value as well.

2. Develop reliable resources

A farmer does not plant a seed on Monday and expect to see a full crop on Tuesday. Developing resources takes time. Institutions, associations and organizations can typically offer insight that a competitor cannot and even then there is a hierarchy to their usefulness. Look at the organization. How long has it been in business? Is the institution considered respected by others or is just lagging along in the middle of the pack?

3. Balance

Just as an acrobat learns how to properly balance, so too must one when he is conducting research. Information that comes from one source and answers all your questions is not likely to be effective. Information that is selected from a myriad of sources can easily spiral out of control and flat-line your project. The best approach is to work with 3 reliable and effective sources and slowly add more sources as needed. It’s okay if you find an incredible source that answers part of your question. Use it. Find another source and work the puzzle in the same way.

Follow these basic rules and your research skills will not only improve but the information you find will make your life much easier.