When I started KSBKids I knew little about building a website, the children’s clothes market, SEO etc. To say I knew little is probably exaggerating ………. I knew nothing, absolutely nothing.
It has been a learning process beyond belief. I have days where I feel as it I have mastered a lot, but also many days when I realise I know so very little indeed about websites and SEO.
Who would have thought that I would ever become so fascinated with SEO and Social Media as I am today…….
I am a strong believe that “One who fears failure limits his activities. Failure is only the opportunity to more intelligently begin again”.
Consequently:
- I have a strategy, but I don’t wait until I have the perfect plan
- I adopt a trial and error approach
- I am honest, – I think my customers appreciate it. Yes it runs counter to what we have been taught for decades … you could even argue it defies the idea of being professional.
I would even argue that avoiding experimenting with the social web is a greater risk than experimenting with it and failing! The B2B centre at Warwick has been instrumental in my learning process and my understanding of operating online. I simply cannot recommend them enough …. these guys know their stuff!
I came across following article on their website about how to use social media in the real world – it is worth a read. Enjoy.
Tags: children's clothes · NB2B Centre · SEO
Earlier today I got the update through from the The National B2B Centre’s Group on LinkedIn. The National B2B Centre has helped me a lot this year with regard to e-marketing, - they have provided input and ideas when I needed it most.
In their newsletter they mention that Seth Godin (master marketer and thinker in the online world) has just writtent a blog in which he defines “The hierarchy of success”:
- Attitude
- Approach
- Goals
- Strategy
- Tactics
- Execution
The gist of the post is that most of us focus on points 3 – 6 but that success has more to do with number 1 and number 2, attitude and approach.
In their newsletter the National B2B Centre goes on to saying: “Our experience is that the most successful companies are definitely strong on those two characteristics. Those of you who attended our eBusiness Conference 2009 may have heard Malene Stanley from KSBKids and Nick Blenkarn from Severn Partnership relating how they have used a variety of tools and technologies to achieve success. What have set them apart from other people that we have worked with is their willingness to try things out, to explore, to recognise when something needs to change, to be ahead of the game”.
Personally, I often feel I know very little about the whole e-commerce, social media business, but I have come to accept that the feeling of always being a little behind is part of the game. As much as I think it is crucial to have a strategy when venturing into social media, I also think one has to adopt a trial and error approach. Most of what I do is work in progress, – learning as I go. At times even my mistakes can be rewarding. One thing is for sure avoiding experimenting with the social web is a greater risk than experimenting with it and failing!
Tags: blogging · Children's Clothes from KSBKids: Kids should Be Kids · NB2B Centre · social media
