Blog
Date: May 16th (Wed). Posted by: Dana
We set out to create Mingly with one goal in mind: develop a product that makes it easy to stay in touch and informed about the important relationships in our life, no matter how we’re connected. Since our initial beta roll-out last November, the Mingly community has grown to nearly 10,000 users and we thank everyone for all the awesome feedback and support.
Today, we are happy to announce Mingly Unlimited. Mingly Unlimited lets you track, receive news, and set reminders for an infinite number of contacts, across multiple email and social accounts! Mingly Unlimited also provides priority support, escalated bug fixes and access to other features, all for only $9.95/mo. Learn more about how you can take your network to the next level at http://ming.ly/unlimited.
Share and get Mingly Unlimited for free
For every 5 friends who sign up and install Mingly, we’ll give you 1 year of Mingly Unlimited for free! You’ll also earn up to a 25% commission on paid referrals. Check out Mingly Referrals and see why more than ever, it pays to get Mingly.
Mingly 2.0 is coming soon!
We’re extremely excited about upcoming product improvements and new features that are just around corner. Our roadmap includes:
- New smart social alerts with granular control
- A mobile app (iOS and Android)
- Team collaboration capabilities
In the immediate future you can also expect to see major performance improvements, dozens of bug fixes, export functionality along with updates to keep-in-touch reminders. If we’re missing something, please reach out with your suggestions at: feedback@ming.ly
We believe technology can foster deep, human connections, which in turn can change the world- and we’re happy to have you with us.
Date: April 11th (Wed). Posted by: Dana
I’ve been reflecting on the history of marketing and my continuing struggle with the phrase Return On Investment (ROI) as it pertains to marketing. The world of marketing has changed. Over the past several years social media has changed the way every business is thinking about marketing. Social media hasn’t just affected marketing.
- It’s how we get our news and weather reports.
- It’s how our politicians speak to us.
- It’s how we share our lives with family and friends. It’s become an important tool for us to manage our relationships.
Though budgets still don’t seem to be growing, businesses are spending more money on social media marketing and less money on the types of marketing they have always done. Bloggers, tweeters, pinners and status updaters have taken away the control businesses once had over their corporate messages.
Today’s businesses have been forced to be on the defensive when it comes to social media marketing. They can certainly control the first message, but after that, it’s anyone’s guess what’s going to happen next. Smart businesses understand this and spend time and money developing a strategy and a Response Policy. Then, they hire people to use various tools so they can manage their presence and “Listen” to what’s being said about them and respond quickly and in a thoughtful manner as dictated by the Response Policy.
Timing has also been forever changed. There was a time when politicians, police chiefs and others timed their announcements so they could make the evening news. Today, news is spread 24/7/365 and if you’re waiting to tell people on the evening news nearly everyone will have already heard. In this social media world, the lack of a Response Policy can lead to a business shutting its doors. More often than not, you’ll have very little time to manage a situation and get your side of the story out, before it’s too late.
Still, no matter what thoughts I have about the state of marketing, I continue to return to the thought it’s all about relationships. Every product or service purchased today is the result of a relationship. It may be a relationship between the consumer and the business. Or, it may be between the consumer and the service provider. But it may also be a relationship between the consumer and her 100 friends on Yelp or her many millions of friends on Facebook.
If I am correct, are we going to see a shift in what marketers consider when they are trying to justify the ROI of a particular marketing plan? Are we going to see a continued increase in the creation and implementation of customer relationship management solutions? Or, are we going to see businesses continue to shy away from the one tool in their marketing shed that can help them stay in business. In his video Social Media Revolution 3, Eric Qualman writes, “The ROI of social media is that your business will still exist in 5 years.”
Brian Solis, in his book Engage! says:
Social media has forever changed the way businesses and customers communicate and also the way customers make their decisions. With networks like Twitter, YouTube, and Facebook, anyone can now find and connect with others who share similar interests and goals — creating communities that shape the perception of brands.
Our metrics have to change. Businesses have to consider their relationships with consumers in order to measure their success. They have to build the number of relationships they have and then successfully manage those relationships. They have to be able to gauge the quality of those relationships to really measure their success. Relying on large numbers of relationships is not going to be the end all. It will be the quality of those relationships that counts.
Max De Pree, the former CEO of Henry Miller, Inc., wrote The Art of Leadership and said:
We talk about the quality of product and service. What about the quality of our relationships and the quality of our communications and the quality of our promises to each other?
We have learned to communicate over the Internet, through email, texting, Skype, Face Time, Hang Outs and who knows what else. Yet, our world has become less personal and the quality of our relationships has become more important than ever. More than ever, it will be the strength and quality of our relationships with those who consume our products and services that will determine whether our business is able to keep its doors open.
Is your business using social media to build and develop relationships with your consumers? How are you measuring the success of these efforts?
President of The Friedman Group, and self-described “Recovering Attorney,” Bradley A. Friedman enhances the online presence of professionals and businesses while taking advantage of the power of social media. Connect with Brad and follow him @BradFriedman
Date: April 2nd (Mon). Posted by: Dana
If you want your event to be memorable, the invitation is the place to begin. A great invitation gets people excited and sets the tone for your party, even before it starts. Take a look at and get inspired by some of the most unique and creative invitations we found on Pinterest.
1. Viewmaster Invitations
Load up these retro viewers with photos of the hosts, guests, or venue, and you’ve created not only an invitation, but also a great keepsake.
Source: stephmodo.com via Mingly on Pinterest
2. A Paper Record Player
Spin this flexidisk record with your hands to hear a song. The video is worth a watch.
3. 3D Pop-up Art
This was the VIP invitation to Lady Gaga’s Workshop at Barneys New York.
Date: March 26th (Mon). Posted by: Dana
There’s a running joke among people who either use or have tried various CRM (Customer Relationship Management) tools:
Q: What does the “R” in CRM stand for?
A: Reports…Revenue…Redundancy…
You get it. Basically any “R” word besides “relationship.”
The Mingly team has spoken with hundreds of independent professionals and their two main frustrations with CRM tools are as follows:
1. CRMs are too complex and cumbersome, requiring a steep learning curve, and
2. CRMs provide little help with the crucial task of nurturing “above the funnel” relationships.
In many cases, the most elegant parts of CRM systems are their reporting and analytics. But independent professionals, from freelancers and consultants, to real estate agents, have neither the time nor the need to model complex pipelines and forecasts.
Their success hinges on two activities: providing excellent service to current customers, and building and maintaining a diverse network to generate opportunities and referrals. CRM systems that are so focused on the deal process and relationships associated with specific dollar amounts, neglect a whole network crucial to driving long-term success.
People Before Process
Traditionally, the sales funnel begins with converting leads into new customers. But where exactly do leads and prospects come from? Sometimes the scenario is straightforward, with a current or former client referring business. But other times, the road to earning prospects is more circuitous. Perhaps a journalist contact features you in an article, which in turn brings in hot leads. Or an old co-worker introduces you to a potential partner or gets you a speaking opportunity. In sum, opportunities and leads are the fruit of effectively nurturing an ecosystem of diverse relationships.
“What you get when you tap into other people’s brains is called network intelligence…What will get you somewhere is being able to access the information you need, when you need it… You get it by talking to people in your network. It’s people who understand your assets, aspirations, and market realities; it’s people who help you vet and get introduced to possible allies and trust connections…” – Reid Hoffman, The Startup of You
With a clear focus on growing “above the funnel” social capital, Mingly is changing how individuals and organizations build and leverage personal networks to reach their goals. By taking the work out of the ongoing outreach needed to advance key relationships, users can effectively create a network based on mutual success.
Our Economy Runs on Relationships
All businesses, big or small, are in the relationship business. Client-facing independent professionals (independent contractors, entrepreneurs, consultants and advisors, freelancers, etc.) make up over ⅓ of the US workforce. Their livelihood depends on their ability to build connections, and ultimately trust, with other members of their community.
What industry are you in and how do you currently manage your personal network? Please share your insights and stories below.
Dana Byerlee is a corporate strategist and relational marketing expert to both Fortune 500s and startups. She has worked with Ferrazzi Greenlight, and is passionate about leveraging new technology to break down barriers and build deeper connections. @LADLynn
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