By: Ed Cerier, Nexstar Network Marketing Strategist

Play to Win

 If you’re a sports fan, you’ve probably heard these two expressions:

 “They played to win.”

 “They played not to lose.”

When sportscasters and analysts use the first expression, it’s always a positive comment. Teams that play to win are determined, they play hard, they don’t hold back. If a “play to win” team loses, the analyst will admire the effort. “At least they tried their hardest,” he’ll say. 

Conversely, when the second expression is used, it’s a negative comment. Teams that play not to lose are careful, conservative, defensive. If this kind of team does lose (and this is often the case), the analyst will be critical. “They held back,” she’ll say. “They didn’t take control. They were passive, not aggressive.”

Now let’s put the above in marketing terms.

A company that plays to win is determined to succeed. They go and get business – they don’t passively wait for business to come to them. Management understands that growing a business requires great marketing, and this can cost money. They know a company’s got to spend money to earn money. A company that plays to win sees marketing as an investment. 

A company that plays not to lose is afraid to fail. This kind of company opens their doors and hopes the business will come to them. They don’t make things happen. Management understands that growing a business requires marketing, but they don’t want to spend the time and money. They don’t spend money for fear they’ll lose it. A company that plays not to lose sees marketing as an expense.

What kind of company are you?

Play to win. That’s good marketing.

By: Susan Kimball Nexstar Network Marketing Coach

IMPORTANT: CHANGE YOUR FACEBOOK BUSINESS PAGE BEFORE MARCH 30th!

Facebook will automatically “upgrade” your company Facebook page to the new Timeline design on March 30th using pieces of whatever content you currently have there. The new design and content arrangement is significantly different, so if you want your page to look professional and include the images and content that you would like to show, you have until March 30th to customize and preview your new page design before it is published.

Learn more about the new Facebook Pages and see some examples at http://www.facebook.com/about/pages. The new design gives you the ability to:

• Add a unique cover photo across the top of your page

• Star stories to make them bigger

• Pin important posts to the top of your page for seven days

• Include large images

• Arrange views and apps below your cover with unique icons

Key Changes

 One major design change is the addition of a large banner photo at the top called a “cover.” Choose a unique photo that represents your company and will appeal to your customers. You can get pretty creative, but keep in mind that there are specific rules that apply to what can be included in your cover image. You can review those, as well as tips for success, in the Facebook Pages Product Guide http://ads.ak.facebook.com/ads/FacebookAds/Pages_Product_Guide_022812.pdf

Each Facebook Page can have up to twelve views or apps, but only four at a time will prominently appear with a unique customizable icon right below the cover image. The others can be accessed via a dropdown menu.

Another impactful change is the removal of the option to select a default landing page. It will no longer be possible to automatically direct visitors that are not already “fans” to specific pages such as Welcome or Contest tabs (now called views and apps) or those that are “fans” to an exclusive deal.  Everyone will now go to the main timeline view, unless they click on a link or widget in places such as an email, your website or a Facebook ad that is set up to take them directly to a particular view or app.

You will also have the opportunity to promote any of the views or apps prominently on your main timeline view by creating an attention-grabbing post with a large attractive image and a link to the special page. That post can be then be pinned to the top of your page for up to seven days.

By: Rachel Whitman, Nexstar® Network Events and Communications Manager

It’s the final day of Owners’ Spotlight Series. Last night, we supported the Nexstar Legacy Foundation by sending Nexstar’s Tom Merriott, Tony Flaminio, Keith Mercurio and Lisa Schardt into a dunk tank. This event was so popular, that we donated over $5000 for the Nexstar Legacy Foundation. Succumbing to peer pressure, Nexstar® Network president and CEO Jack Tester, and business coach Jodi Peter, were also dunked, allowing us to add even more to our Legacy Foundation scholarship fund.

Once again, this morning, we began early. Jack Tester has opened the general session by sharing the scope for the day. We’ll focus on onboarding new employees and the processes needed to successfully monitor and coach that employee to success. All of our discussions over the last two days will climax with the unveiling of Nexstar® Network’s new General Manager Certification program this afternoon. This program–a PHCE industry first–will prepare general managers to provide superior leadership, education them on basic leadership principles, financial and business acumen, authority and decision making, customer service, and management essentials specified for every department in your business.

We can’t wait to see how the program will impact our members and our industry for the better. Jack Tester shared this morning, “Truth + Timing + Tact = Transformation.” Our hope is that in delivering a  robust general manager certification program and by continually communicating and building success through education and sharing, we can continue to inspire and grow together.

By: Rachel Whitman, Nexstar Network Events and Communication Manager

The past two days in Phoenix have been full of sun, friendship and fun. We began Wednesday with Boot Camp—a room full of contractors ready to change their businesses for the better. Nexstar Network trainers and coaches highlighted the many programs, processes and tools available to transform daily operations within the business and inspired attendees to take action.

Stever Farber wows Nexstar Network with his insights into Extreme Leadership.

On Thursday, we welcomed our VIPs to Owners’ Spotlight. Inspired by the energy of this event and their interest in Nexstar, these folks travelled to Phoenix to learn more about Nexstar Network membership and our commitment to success through education and sharing.

The Nexstar Legacy Foundation welcomed members and strategic partners to a day of golf, sightseeing and relaxation. Things got competitive on the golf course and we even witnessed a hole in one!

Thursday evening ended with a reception in the beautiful south garden of the hotel. Friends were reunited and it was the perfect end to the day.

This morning, Nexstar members were up early and energized. Doors to our general session opened at 7:30 a.m. and within minutes the room was buzzing with conversation and excitement.

Nexstar president and CEO, Jack Tester kicked off the event—setting the stage for the focus of this event—Leading for Success. Jack then turned over the stage to Steve Farber, business coach and speaker. Steve has spent the morning helping us focus on why we are here. What are we hoping to gain from this experience? What is extreme leadership?

One key point from Steve’s delivery that has struck a chord with members is: “Why would you attempt to do anything extraordinary if your heart isn’t in it.”

This is the perfect question to ask ourselves as we prepare for the rest of the program. Stay tuned to this blog as our Owners’ Spotlight Series unfolds.

By: Susan Kimball, Nexstar Network Marketing Coach

A number of members have been impacted in recent updates to Google Places. It seems that these updated are taking place in waves. Previous updates have caused loss of reviews and historically most of those reviews reappeared within 1-3 days, but I have seen it take as long as 3 weeks. In the past, not all reviews returned, but most did unless they did not meet Google requirements.

In the meantime, continue your efforts to encourage your customers to give you reviews directly on Google.  Be careful not to have sudden, dramatic changes in your review pattern. This may be a trigger to Google that you may be “gaming the system.”  For example, if you generally get 1 or 2 reviews a week and suddenly that increases to 10 a day, that could be a red flag to Google. Google may trigger your account to be in line for a manual review of your Places Profile. Being in line for a manual review can cause your listing to temporarily disappear in the Maps section; if it is then reviewed and found to not comply, it can be suspended.  

 We have also noticed that when companies have lots of reviews from people outside their location, that sometimes another reviewer will call those out as fake reviews even though they may be legitimate.  That is not good for consumers to see, and may also be a trigger term for Google.

 Another less common result of this update is Google suspending a company’s profile and launching a new unclaimed profile for that company, but without all the original information and reviews. Here’s what you should do:

1. Check to see if your Google Places profile is claimed.
2. If so, it will show “owner verified listing” in the right corner.  If it says “Business owner?” it is not claimed. 
3. You should also look in your Google Places dashboard to see if there are any notations from Google such as “suspended.”
4. If you find that your listing is no longer claimed or your account was suspended by Google, please call your marketing coach or web vendor that handles your SEO or Reviews to discuss next steps.

By: Susan Kimball, Nexstar Network Marketing Coach

Many members are using Facebook to connect with customers and potential customers (plus help their website SEO). A key to Facebook success is gaining a strong following in your market and then engaging your  ‘fans” and their “friends”.  Some proven ways to get more “Likes” and build your fan base are contests, donation programs or exclusive deals for fans. Facebook has specific rules for conducting these type promotions — one of which is that they must be produced using approved Facebook Apps.

Introducing Nexstar Social

Now it is easy and affordable to create attention grabbing promotions as well as eye-catching pages and tabs with Nexstar Social. From custom welcome screens to fans-only promotions to large format images & video, your Nexstar Social account (just $35 a month with annual subscription) gives you access to 18 approved apps, as well as upcoming Nexstar templates and app additions.  Change your promotions and custom pages as often as you like — with no technical expertise needed.  Just switch on the apps that match your objectives, enter the text and images you need, and start gathering more “likes”, spreading the word about your brand, and rewarding your fans directly from your Facebook page.  

For more information or to sign up, contact Susan Kimball at susank@nexstarnetwork.com.