The Power of Words

You do not have to be a person of faith to understand the power of words. Even in technology, it is apparent that the words used to search for what we want has to have the proper keywords. Some people even go to the extent of researching long tail keywords because it is more closely related to how we think and search for things. Why is this done? Because we are looking for something in particular, and we want that specific thing or information. 


The same should be applied to business and every day life. But especially in business. The most rich, famous, and sometimes infamous business people are usually considered arrogant and "full of themselves." People can be turned off by them because of what they say about themselves, their craft, or talent. They understand the power of what they say and how it affects their performance and thoughts about themselves. They say what they are looking for -- not what they are; big difference in outcome. Our words influence our actions.

If your business is stagnant or slow, stating this constantly or saying it to others is just as powerful as if you said something positive. Not a lie, but definitely not a defeated confession either. What do you want for your business? What kind of clients do you want to attract? What type of growth do you want to occur? What are you looking for? These are all much more encouraging and empowering than stating facts that will only lead to lack of motivation or procrastination. SEO is an entire discipline built on words. How can that be applied to business?

Just a thought.

Facebook, Politics, and Your Social Media Policy

Business arguably receives the most benefit from 800 million users logging into social networking giant Facebook. Businesses can gather information about their target market's buying habits, preferences, and decisions that influence their purchasing habits, just by having a profile or business page. Companies used to pay top dollar to marketing firms to gain access to such valuable information, and still do.

But business is also dealing with another issue posed by the social networking giant -- disgruntled employees voicing their complaints, unproductive time spent on the company clock, and little to no recourse to fight these issues. Even if social networks are blocked on company networks, employees can gain access through several mobile devices without the employer ever knowing. But is this a valid or smart stance for business?

The issues have become so important that Democratic Congressman Ed Perlmutter drafted an amendment to the Federal Communications Commission Process Reform Act 2012 after several complaints by job applicants that they had to share their personal Facebook passwords. Potentially, anything posted on Facebook would be considered in the hiring process.

The amendment did not have a chance as only one Republican voted in favor of the amendment and a final vote of 236-184. However, this issue will only be escalated as employers who do this can be investigated for breaking federal laws. Social networks are beginning to have more of an impact on business than just marketing. As of today, it is NOT illegal for employers to require Facebook passwords during the hiring process.

If you are seeking employment, it would be a good time to edit any information that could remotely keep you from getting a job. Competition is fierce, and when all else is equal, your social networking activity could affect your job prospects.

Would you as a small business owner support such a requirement to hire employees? Why or why not?