Author: headstartAdmin

Retail Conferences in 2018: A Curated List

 

Running a retail business can be all-consuming: being on top of day-to-day pressures and keeping aware of emerging trends, new developments in technology, and changes in consumer behaviour. In this ever-evolving world, attending a conference can be a great way to keep yourself, and your business, ahead of the pack.

Conferences aren’t just for the big names- they offer opportunities for all levels of business, from start-ups all the way to multi-nationals. Workshops and learning sessions are geared towards the industry, and are led by successful leaders. And they aren’t always as expensive as you might think. Some conferences offer exhibit hall access at a greatly reduced price; others provide substantial discounts for members of professional organizations.

Here are some upcoming retail conferences we’ve researched for you to consider:

Shoptalk 2018 – Las Vegas, March 18-21, 2018

The largest worldwide conference for retail and eCommerce innovation, Shoptalk offers a wide range of learning opportunities, exhibitions, and networking.
https://shoptalk.com/

Retail Marketing 2018 – Toronto, April 12, 2018. 

The annual conference of the Retail Council of Canada, Retail Marketing provides a variety of keynote sessions, focused learning sessions, roundtables, and networking opportunities.
http://rccretailmarketing.ca/

Retail Innovation Conference – New York, May 1-2, 2018

Businesses that are seeking ways to change and develop will benefit from the chance to learn from innovative thinkers and the leaders of disruptive brands through workshops, panels, and networking opportunities.
http://www.retailinnovationconference.com/

eTail Canada 2018 – Toronto, May 15-17, 2018

Geared towards retailers of all levels, from start-ups to established brands, across all industries, the aim of eTail Canada is to provide effective and topical information about eCommerce.  It is known for its exceptional content, presentations, and speakers.
https://etailcanada.wbresearch.com/

4th Retail Tech 2018 – Toronto, May 17, 2018

Focusing on technology and IT innovations, Retail Tech provides an exclusive opportunity for bringing the interests of business and IT together.
https://www.retailtekshow.com/

Store 2018 – Toronto, May 29-30, 2018

Billed as Canada’s biggest retail conference, Store 2018 focusses on retail, supplier, and consumer products.  It offers keynote addresses, interactive panels, networking, and a full slate of exhibitors.
https://www.storeconference.ca/

Future Stores 2018 – Seattle, June 19-21, 2018

Aimed at businesses that prioritize the in-store experience, Future Stores offers retail leaders an opportunity to build their omnichannel experience to ensure future success.
https://futurestores.wbresearch.com/

photo credit: raw pixel

Content Planning Tips for the New Year

 

2018 has finally torn us away from our holiday chocolates and movies to start thinking about our content marketing goals – especially since work schedules are starting to kick in!

So what kind of content are you planning this year?

With so many choices and creative options out there – here are some tips to help you plan your “New Year” of content:

  1. Invest in a full-size desktop calendar or use an online calendar that will be dedicated to content production.
  2. Decide on how much content for the year you will produce. Will it be weekly, monthly, quarterly?
  3. Come up with titles or code names for each article, blog, infographic, video, or whitepaper, etc.
  4. Use a dedicated colour for planning each piece of content and for any related tasks or due dates. Use markers if on paper or, if you are using an online calendar, a dedicated font colour or shade.
  5. Ask people to help with each content piece, if needed, and assign them a start date and an internal due date using the colour selected. Build in time for content “companion” items needed for lead generation, such as a landing page.
  6. Assign a publishing due date and also a sharing due date. This will get your team in the mindset of sharing the content you produce. What process can you put into place to ensure sharing takes place?
  7. Create a status board. Use a white board or poster to list all the titles or content code names and put a percentage “complete” beside it. Update the percentage weekly so your colleagues walking by can see the status of all of your content. For example: New Year’s Blog Post 75%. This will keep your team informed and ready to share – plus they will be curious and may want to help on a future piece of content!

P.S. If you can, plan on doing one video per month – people share more videos than articles generally and it can give you an advantage over all of the other content out there! Tip credit to @bsarich.

All the best for a wonderful 2018 everyone! Happy New Year!

photo credit: barnimages.com Astronomical clock via photopin (license)

The Case for Good Writing

At HeadStart, our vision is “to provide first-class writing services to our clients and to promote writing excellence across the business community.”

And we’re not the only ones who know good writing matters. According to Inc.com, 73.4% of employers want a candidate with strong written communication skills.

It just makes cents … and it’s not just a question of image; it’s a question of profit.

Check it out: 73% of Employers Want Candidates With This Skill.

If HeadStart runs a workshop, what topics would you want covered for your team?

Let us know: Contact.

photo credit: pexels.

Sibos 2017: Technology, Amplified

Navigating the levels of the Metro Convention Centre in downtown Toronto, I don’t think I ran into any fellow Canadians until the second day at Sibos 2017 – hosted and organized by SWIFT. More than 8,000 attendees from around the globe attended this leading financial services conference held on October 16-19, 2017.

Battleground for Data

Dave McKay, President and CEO at RBC, kicked it off, declaring that the “battleground for data” is well on its way and how “technology can create an understanding of the customer journey for frictionless payments.” An increase in computing power and technology innovations, such as blockchain, “could transform the industry but still in its infancy,” said McKay.

Technology and innovation was on everyone’s mind with an endless stream of panels and sessions at Sibos. Some of the most popular were around blockchain, artificial intelligence and the APIs banks rely on day-to-day (Application Programming Interfaces).

Canadian Hub of FinTechs

Near the “Canada 150” lounge was the Canadian FinTech Corner showcase – something Toronto can certainly be proud of! Canadian home-grown FinTechs were there, such as MindBridge, Borrowell, Dojo, Finn.ai and Overbond, just to name a few. There were also many more exhibiting across the hall such as US-based, TokenOS, and inpher from New York and Switzerland.

Many FinTechs are still seen by banks as a “value add” for customers but that is changing thanks to cloud computing and “open data”. The PSD2 directive coming from Europe is definitely top of mind and those who can help Canadian companies work within this new environment may take priority.

Banks are becoming FinTech incubators and integrators but it is taking time due to regulatory and security concerns. At Sibos, FinTechs were noticeably absent from the main tradeshow floor – a reminder of the divide between old tech and new at the conference itself.

Blockchain as Emerging Tech

In a packed session on blockchain, Andrew McCormack, Senior Director of Technology at Payments Canada, said that “we would have to change the bank act” to accommodate some of the emerging technology into the digital landscape before meaningful change can occur.

The majority on the panel agreed that they are accountable to the regulations, consumer trust and security of their systems. Until there is a global standard for blockchain and collective legitimacy for other types of emerging technology, such as cryptocurrency, it won’t be ready for mass adoption.

Cyber Challenge

At the very cutting edge, a hidden gem tucked away at Sibos, was the Student Cyber Challenge run by the SWIFT Institute with a $20,000 prize. The winner for 2017 was Team Pulse OS from the University of Toronto. Their solution uses signal processing and machine algorithms to identify patterns of unusual activity to combat cyber security threats.

Sibos, even with its high number of technology discussions, is only scratching the surface of the technology to come in the future. McKay, in his address, said that his whole job was to “navigate the cadence of change” and adjust for the future.

New Paradigms

Someone who had the luxury of developing a set of standards adopted globally was my highlight of the week – a fireside chat with Sir Tim Berners-Lee, the creator of the World Wide Web. Berners-Less said, just like we had a paradigm shift to teach everyone how to “click” and add links to other sites, we need to build a “standard user experience” and work towards a system we can all agree upon.

Susan Varty, Managing Partner of HeadStart Copywriting, writes about payment trends, products and technology in Financial Services.

Becoming a Partner

 

We are growing!

HeadStart Copywriting is expanding and we need new freelance writers from all industry backgrounds to become Partners.

Keep all of your existing accounts and build new ones with a team of great people under one brand. This helps you to be seen as more established and part of a larger company – reassuring clients that you will be there for them and building trust along the way.

Reap the benefits of partnership!

  • Coaching and day-to-day guidance from Senior Partners to help answer your business questions and grow your accounts.
  • Existing logo, brand, website, turn-key marketing and payment processing.
  • Build long-term company relationships to avoid competing with others for the lowest price.
  • Simple product offering that reduces negotiation and smooths out income month-to-month.
  • HeadStart provides all the tools for running a business so you can focus on the work – or start subcontracting yourself to increase your income.
  • Refer to our corporate client base in meetings, and offer one simple solution under our Copy-as-a-Service model that will reduce sales negotiation and allow you to plan for your future, on your terms.
  • There are no up front fees. As a Partner, a small percentage of sales is set aside towards HeadStart’s operations and marketing. You have the option to freelance but more income is to be made if working full-time, growing your own client base.
  • Best of all, you get your own independence, work you love and a great team who cares about quality work and exceptional client service!

Let us know what your goals are and what you want to achieve. Contact us and we look forward to speaking with you!

Sincerely,

Susan Varty

Managing Partner
HeadStart Copywriting

Women In Payments Toronto Symposium 2017: Innovation in Fintech

The Women In Payments Symposium was held in Toronto on September 27th, 2017, to an ever-growing audience of executives in financial services, emerging Fintech start-ups, plus established companies within the payments industry. The theme of innovation through multiple drivers such as regulation, platform, and security was kicked off for attendees by Founder and CEO, Kristy Duncan.

Keynote speaker, Dr. Roberta Bondar, inspired the audience with her own career and life story – encouraging everyone to “build your own support system and take the time to enjoy key moments and milestones in your life.” Dr. Bondar spoke about everyone as humans first and urged the audience to encourage critical thinking and life-long learning, no matter what your industry expertise.

The innovation panel was next with some power brands in payments including leaders from Interac, Samsung Research of America, and Square. The panel talked about a customer centric approach to payments in addition to artificial intelligence, data, and security.

One of the first sessions of the day was on mapping the true customer journey and how people see value in different ways. For example, a mom with kids in car seats really appreciates the drive through bank machine! Other panels focused on payment trends such as the implications of payments in the digital age; how millennials are driving the digital payments agenda; and harnessing the power of big data, robotics, chatbots and AI.

The Fintech Unicorn Challenge brought out some strong entrepreneurial competition to the stage and was popular among the attendees who got to vote in real-time after the pitches were presented. Dojo.co, an app for banks to teach kids how to manage their money, won the audience favourite. Sarah Wilkinson, one of the judges from RBC, said that Dojo won because people can relate personally to money-related conversations with their own children. The winner of the judges’ choice award was Finn.ai based out of Vancouver and using AI to let “banks interact with their customers through universally familiar conversation.” Finn.ai is gaining a lot of traction in financial services because customers can “auto-engage” and communicate with their banks using familiar channels.

The afternoon was jammed with more great talks about trends in artificial intelligence and payments, including a popular “millennial” session. Millennials were more comfortable with a monthly credit card fee instead of an annual fee based on their use of every day apps, such as Netflix. Plus, they are considered the educators and advocates in technology adoption between older and younger generations. Although more and more people are using various types of payment technology, an overall theme emerged that people need human touch points in their payment journey.

Barbara Mason, Group Head and Chief Human Resources Officer at Scotiabank, closed the conference with her top 10 tips for high performing teams. Her top 10 included asking for one piece of feedback – even informally after a meeting – to gain insight on your career journey.

To register for next year’s symposium or an upcoming networking event, please visit www.womeninpayments.org.

Susan Varty, Managing Partner of HeadStart Copywriting, writes about payment trends, products and technology in Financial Services.

How to Write a LinkedIn Summary

Please re-use this formula in any training or other materials with the credit cited as: How to Write a LinkedIn Summary or Short Bio Copyright © 2018 HeadStart Copywriting.

About the LinkedIn Summary Formula

A professional LinkedIn Summary with great keywords for “searchability” follows a four paragraph format. HeadStart Copywriting uses third person narrative to appeal to search engines, and to elevate someone’s online persona – like a speaker’s bio for a conference. Third person narrative makes an individual sound more professional (or experienced in their industry) and avoids repetitive sentences starting with “I”.

Paragraph 1: HOW THEY WORK WITH OTHERS

  • Do not start with years of experience – incorporate their first and last name and talk about how that person helps others and their working style. Answer the question – what is it like to work with them? Describe what they are good at, or what they prefer to emphasize.
  • Avoid repeating job titles as they are in the headline/job title area already. The focus is on what they can do for others, not a list of items about what they have done.
  • List any qualities that make them different. If they speak additional languages, this should be mentioned as soon as possible because it is a significant differentiator, especially in North America.
  • For example: Leonard DiKaprio is a persuasive business leader with extensive experience in corporate governance, mergers and acquisitions, strategic planning and all aspects of financial management. Leveraging his strategic business sense, Leonard is adept at providing a calm approach and multidimensional solutions to complex business issues across multiple sectors.

Paragraph 2 – WHAT EXACTLY DO THEY DO?

  • Describe, in a couple of sentences or more, what they do specifically to add keywords.
  • What kind of credentials, background or experiences do they have that support what they do or demonstrate their expertise?
  • Ensure that their specific industry(ies) is mentioned.
  • For example: As a leader, Leonard is recognized for creating innovative strategic plans, leveraging new technologies, building attractive growth opportunities and fostering highly motivated teams. Leonard is also a CPA with broad-based financial and C-suite experience in a variety of sectors, including technology, medical devices, publishing, packaged goods and online media.

Paragraph 3 – BONUS MATERIAL (Organizations, Community Involvement, Boards, Awards, etc.)

  • Include information about their community involvement or where they’ve been published or conferences they have spoken at. If nothing, highlight a specific project, more ways they help others or an approach to their work.
  • For example: With his interest in education, youth issues and technology, Leonard currently sits on the board for X and on the Advisory Board for Y. He is a former board member for Z and a former Vice President and President of the Board of the Publishers Council.

Paragraph 4 – CALL TO ACTION

  • Direct readers to a website as the next step, or add your email to re-emphasize that it is okay to get in touch.
  • Alternatively, write a short paragraph about the company or what they should do depending on the situation. For example, ask people to sign up for a mailing list or contact someone in HR if interested in working there.
  • For example: Leonard is interested in board roles at high-growth technology firms in Toronto, Ontario. Please contact him at <email address>.

photo credit: vastateparksstaff Relic a guy writing on notepad while at beach Fairy Stone State Park Va via photopin (license)

How to present with no slides, no notes!

My father introduced me to this memory technique while I was at university. It has also served me well as an entrepreneur to deliver public talks and presentations without visual aids or notes – a definite “wow factor” these days! The technique is by Harold Taylor, from his book, Managing Your Memory. I shared this recently with a client and thought everyone may benefit from it!

First, number the sections of your speech or presentation outline. Usually, you want to say items in order – so let’s say there are six sections. Visualize the following symbols for each section:

1 = Magic Wand

2 = Swan

3 = Pitchfork (or trident)

4 = Chair

5 = Star

6 = Dice (or an elephant trunk curled like the number six)

Now visualize each item above interacting with something selected from each section of your talk (a main point or set of points). For example, imagine you are waving the wand at a truck (item 1) to introduce how you got started in the transportation industry.

Now, imagine the swan (item 2) on stage and holding up a sign with your favourite quotation to kick off your theme. The stranger the image, the better.

Repeat this process for every symbol and section. Draw your symbols on a piece of paper (repeatedly if needed) and rehearse, rehearse, rehearse.

This is also how you memorize a list of things in order (backwards and forwards) because the images represent numbers. You can use any images you want as long as they remind you of the number.

Please let me know if you try it out!

photo credit: afagen: Gray matter

Your Next Step

7 actions you can take right now to get promoted, recruited or go out on your own!

  1. Talk Company Strategy: Start thinking strategically, in order to have a more direct impact on your sales and partnerships. People who bring in the money get noticed and promoted. Thinking tactically and focusing only on the needs of the day will make it harder to take the kind of initiative that leads to promotion. So step up: offer ideas; propose options; join new projects; and be sure to benchmark the data to demonstrate your analytical mindset no matter what the outcome. The best workplaces are those that encourage and support ambition.
  2. Budget for Lunch: Ask for introductions and go out on Friday lunches with people who work at other companies (not co-workers or friends). Set aside funds specifically for this purpose and think of it as an investment in yourself. People are more likely to join you (and feel less pressure), if you say it’s on you – “It’s my treat!” These one-to-one lunches can result in career leaps or sales opportunities if you are in business for yourself. Alternatively, consider participating in an intramural sport you enjoy. You’ll meet a variety of people on a regular basis, and familiar faces every week will encourage conversations. Those conversations can lead to opportunities. Joining an athletics club can offer the same benefits, not the least of which is a boost in health!
  3. Talk to Accountants: Know your financial terms: revenue vs. profit, credit memo, fixed, variable, and accrued expenses, etc. When you talk numbers, you turn heads. Bookkeeping is your best friend as business owner, too – every day I start with a coffee and categorize my daily online transactions. This allows me to ensure enough cash flow for operations and sufficient funds to set aside for taxes. If you work for a company, increasing your financial know-how will also give you an edge, since companies are always looking to increase sales or cut costs to grow the bottom line.
  4. Play Connect the Dots: News from one company has an impact on another. Stay on top of trends and news and reach out to senior management with short emails with links. People want to be in the know and will appreciate a concise and proactive approach to information sharing– even if they don’t have time to reply. Set up Google alerts and log into LinkedIn more often. I tailor my Facebook feed to be news-oriented by “liking” news outlets and subscribe to a US-based news summary mailing list called theSkimm. Again, knowledge is power. Power leads to promotion.
  5. Avoid Phone Phobias: Recruiters (and top execs) tend to contact individuals by phone when they shortlist for interviews – don’t keep your number hidden. If you have to, mask your number or get a new line or voicemail box, but always make yourself available by phone. Tip: Call recruiters back. Don’t email! Recruiters like to gauge your communication skills and are more likely to shortlist you if you impress them on the phone. Moreover, many people tend to avoid the phone out of fear, self-consciousness, or preference so by calling others, you’re likely to stand out and build more long-term rapport. To quote Michael Port, “always have something to invite people to.” To that I would add, “by phone.”
  6. Know Software Shortcuts: Do you use Word? Excel? Take an advanced course, so you can create professional documents that are impressive and complete work faster. On the job, in terms of your resume or for proposals as a business owner, word-processing savvy gives you a significant edge over two-finger typists: great content in a polished document always goes to the top and makes a strong impression. Another tip: use the Delay Delivery button under new message Options in Microsoft Outlook to encourage responses within working hours. With Delay Delivery, you can control some of the “email overwhelm.”
  7. Save Money, Get Organized: These two items are connected, because you can’t do one without the other. It will help you get to your next step and allow you to take the risks you never thought were possible. With money in the bank, you can pay for unexpected expenses or a staff lunch. You can pay for extra help with your resume or a virtual assistant, even if you work full-time. There are so many options and tools out there. I live and breathe using the following: Asana, Quickbooks, Evernote, MailChimp, Highrise CRM, Google Alerts, and Google Calendar.

photo credit: Christian Barette. Aout. photopin. (license).