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"Economic Development Marketing Letter"
A Blane, Canada Ltd. Publication
Nationally Recognized Experts On Economic Development Marketing and Retention
http://www.blanecanada.com
http://www.synchronist.com
October 2007, Volume: 10, Issue: e/7, ISBN 1527-5175
~~~ Fiction and Fact... Over 33% of company executives interviewed nationally complain about availability of skilled workers. In reality, only 8% will make local investment decisions based on the lack of skilled workers. 33% appears to be a BIG number. It demands attention... until there is a context for evaluating the relevance of the 33% response. Blane, Canada Ltd's Key Performance Indicators provide a meaningful context for determing relevance. Now, why the difference? We believe there are two factors at play. First, executives know they cannot solve this problem by relocating. The skilled worker shortage is global. Second, in psychology we call it a "conditioned" response. When we tell executives and leaders how much of a problem skilled workforce is and why they have to fund workforce research and programs, when surveyed, they will mention how important skilled workforce is. Pavlov would be delighted. His theory is being used to aggressively fund massive efforts in the name of economic development. A classic self-fulfilling prophecy. Data source: 2007 North American Data Study, Key Performance Indicators, Blane, Canada Research.
Business Retention, Expansion and Development: Adding Value to Existing Business Programs... Join Eric in Texas for the TEDC (Texas Economic Development Council) workshop October 26th, 8:30 am - 4:00 pm, Marriott Dallas-Las Colinas, 223 West Las Colinas Blvd., Irving, TX 75039. Info http://www.texasedc.org/node/72
~~~ How do you find time for things that really matter? Things like thinking, observing, questioning, and listening? Put it this way, what is on your "stop doing" list? Many of the things we do everyday don't add value to the organization or your clients. Look at your to-do list. Where is the client value? What can you just stop? What can you delegate?
~~~~ What happens... when you bring 70 people from 22 states together around a shared interest? Learning and community building. The 7th Annual Synchronist Users' Forum provided a backdrop for business retention specialists to share best practices and lessons learned with other members of this unique "community of interest." As two participants noted: "This is my 3rd year. I always take home more than I leave behind. These sessions have helped me build a dynamic, growing program." TX "Thanks for last week (Synchonist Users’ Forum), it was great! There are so many amazing people doing so many great programs! My head is still spinning with ideas!" CO
~~~~ You can’t manage what you can’t measure... When asked why many EDOs don't track web site traffic, the reply is often, "We don’t have the time or expertise to go get them." No more excuses. Check out http://www.developmentresults.com.This new service for economic development organizations makes tracking web stats easy. The service captures the most important statistics, including the sweet spot for business conversions on an Economic Development site, document downloads, but also organizes it in a Board ready, cleanly designed PDF format (including a graphical representation of the ED funnel), all e-mailed to organizations on a monthly basis. Benchmark reports also show how your site traffic compared to other EDOs. Finally, easy, painless, meaningful information about the effectiveness of your web traffic. Mark J. James, CEcD, ED Solutions, Inc.
~~~ "Remember... your community is not judged by where you are today. Your community is judged by where it is going. A community's forward momentum can drive investment interest." In short, the community that invests in itself will be significantly more successful than the community that waits for someone outside to invest in it. Attitude drives altitude. Quote: Tom Clark, Metro Denver Network, CO
~~~ It is easy for us to think... the US is the center of the universe and will remain that way. To put this laughable assumption in perspective, consider the fact that in 500 A.D., an Indian mathematician invented the number that changed the world. This invention catapulted science in India into the lead for 1,000 years. The number, 0. Yep. Without 0 you wouldn't be reading this on your computer. Binary code could not have been invented in Germany 1500 years later or the first computer, Collusous, in 1944.
~~~ Pass it along... Forward "Economic Development Marketing Letter" to 5 new professionals in your network and recommend they subscribe by sending their name, e-mail and organization to info@blanecanada.com. Thank you for your support!
~~~ "Thanks so much for the valuable insights and stimulating subjects provided in your monthly news." FL
~~~ "Knowledge Inventory"... What is your community's knowledge inventory? "A community's knowledge inventory is as important, if not more important, than the inventory of available sites and buildings. The knowledge base of the place becomes the differentiating factor in site selection if you want to get knowledge work done." Dean Whittaker, Whittaker Associates, MI
~~~ Rainmaker's Secret #5 ... "everybody sells." One of the largest untapped resources in economic development marketing is the Board and leadership. Every Board member that is not trained and used, represents an opportunity missed. Quote, Ron Kitchens. Source, Blane, Canada Ltd.'s Leadership Orienteering (workshop for community leadership). Call Eric 630-462-9222.
~~~ Research you can use... i cdnuolt blveiee taht I cluod aulaclty uesdnatnrd waht I was rdanieg. The phaonmneal pweor of the hmuan mnid, aoccdrnig to a rscheearch at Cmabrigde Uinervtisy, it dseno't mtaetr in waht oerdr the ltteres in a wrod are, the olny iproamtnt tihng is taht the frsit and lsat ltteer be in the rghit pclae. The rset can be a taotl mses and you can sitll raed it whotuit a pboerlm. Tihs is bcuseae the huamn mnid deos not raed ervey lteter by istlef, but the wrod as a wlohe. Azanmig huh? Yaeh and I awlyas tghuhot slpeling was ipmorantt! Source: Peter Myall, Toronto
~~~ Three things every web site should have... (1) A LIVE Internet chat representative to capture visitor interest; (2) A "Click-to-Call" where the caller can enter a phone number for immediate follow-up. (3) An after hours "Quick Contact" for Type-A web browsers who want answers now. By entering their name, phone and e-mail and clicking OK, they immediately notify the economic developer "on-call" to call them ASAP. Example: www.STELLARfundraising.com, Terry Cusack, STELLAR Fundraising Executives, Inc.
Blane, Canada Ltd. 1506 Cadet, Suite 100 Wheaton, IL 60187-7380 ph 630.462.9222 fax 630.462.9210
info@blanecanada.com
