You've worked through your Churn rates, you've iterated your face off, and created a sustainable funnel of business jargon. This code language needs a name.
Let's call it "LinkedIn-Speak".
So how could office environment superstars explain a hobby like Ballroom dancing to their co-workers? Or, better yet, how could a social dancer better understand LinkedIn-Speak?
How to Explain Ballroom Dancing to Your LinkedIn Friends
Whether you're a content marketer, an engineer, graphic artist, or ballroom dancer - we're pretty sure you have a LinkedIn account, or have heard these terms before. What we are hoping is to deliver an additional application, some new context to some notable business buzzwords, and maybe give you a content curve ball to share on your LinkedIn profile.
BETA TEST
A Beta Test is an initial release of a product used to acquire the necessary feedback for improving it on the final release.
In Dancing
The Beta Test is taking a complimentary dance lesson which is an opportunity for the prospective student to learn a few dance steps, and Beta Test the studio, the teacher, and the curriculem before making any big commitments.
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"Bill finally decided to Beta Test ballroom dancing by arranging his first complimentary dance lesson at Arthur Murray." |
CONVERSION RATE
In marketing, this is how often a prospect completed a desired action with your marketing or sales team.
In Dancing
This is how often you are able to convert dance invitations into dance partners.
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"After taking dance lessons, Brian tells everyone that his dance floor conversion rate has skyrocketed." |
CUSTOMER RELATIONSHIP MANAGEMENT (CRM)
This is the platform that keeps track of all of your existing, or potential customers.
In Dancing
For dance students, your instructor is a living, breathing CRM; charged with keeping track of your current progress and future goals.
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"When you take into account the dance program, teachers, and management at his local dance studio - Steve, essentially, has a Dance Studio CRM keeping track of all the important details of his new hobby." |
EVERGREEN CONTENT
For marketers, this is the most consistently buzzworthy piece of content that you use to lure more traffic to your website.
In Dancing
This is a dance routine. It's a memorized piece of dance content that you use to showcase your moves.
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"Toby's Cha-Cha Routine is his bread and butter Latin Dancing Evergreen content. He gets a great response every time he performs it, so it's no wonder he chose it to perform at the big event." |
ITERATE
To repeat and refine. Not to be confused with "irritate", which may be something one feels if a co-worker uses the term Iterate too frequently.
In Dancing:
There is no dance, pattern, or technique that can be perfected in one fell swoop. It's a process. In dancing we refer to these as layers, but you can call them iterations if you want. Whatever you call them, with each successful one, you'll reveal a new version of execution.
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"George came to the realization that after one dance he wasn't a world champion. So he made the wise decision to iterate." |
KPI'S
Key Performance Indicators. The metrics that mean the most to your business.
In Dancing
Without Key Performance Indicators, it would be easy to take a Pass/Fail outlook at something like ballroom dancing. The syllabus you are working from should include specific areas of focus (KPI's), like Timing, Foot Position, or Lead and Follow.
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"Jenny and Tim's instructor started their lesson covering some Key Performance Indicators for the third level of their social dance program." |
MARKETING AUTOMATION
Automated messaging triggered by desired actions by your current, or prospective, customers.
In Dancing
The Natural Use Stage is the point when the skill, step, or technique is done automatically, without intense thought or frustration. This is the point when dancers can talk, breathe, and smile while dancing.
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"Jim and Susan realized they were experiencing the dance form of Marketing Automation when they maneuvered around traffic on the dance floor without stopping their conversation." |
QUALIFIED LEAD
This someone who has opted in to receive newsletters, articles, or appointments with your sales team.
In Dancing
This is someone who agrees to another dance with you, or sets a dancing date with you in the future.
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"After she agreed to save him a dance later, Tom made a mental note to consider Jane a Qualified Lead on the social dance floor." |
ROI
Return on Investment. The gains you make from the time or money you've put in to your venture.
In Dancing
Whether it's dancing at your high school reunion, wowing your co-workers at an office party, or just having the muscle memory to dance without thinking - seeing a return on investment is the mission of your dance teachers. Sometimes that comes in the form of non-dancing benefits like weight loss, social ease, or improved confidence, or it could come in the form of dancing without hesitation when the dance floor clears.
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"John walked right up to her, and after 10 years of blending in, he made his move and asked her to dance at his company party. It's safe to say he's seeing a great ROI on his dance program." |
SOCIAL PROOF
Whether it's hearing about a sold out concert, or reading 5 star reviews on Yelp - social proof is assessing a product based on the compilation of opinions around you.
In Dancing
Social proof for your own dance progress comes in the form of feedback from Dance Consultants, friends, instructors, or family members. Social Proof for dancing can also occur when you see or meet dance students who you can relate to.
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"As skeptical as Sally was about her progress, the Social Proof was evident with the feedback she received from her family. " |
USER EXPERIENCE (UX)
The study of a prospects overall experience with a business, whether in person or on the web.
In Dancing
How you feel as a dance partner. From the common social graces, to the feel of your dance frame, the dance content, and your ability to interact socially while on the dance floor.
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"Great dancers like Gina offer a great User Experience - they are polite, sensitive to dance signals, and show grace on and off the dance floor." |
Final Thought
Learning how to dance may not get you an automatic seat on the board. It may not actually reduce churn in your content marketing efforts, won't do anything to optimize your landing pages, and will do zero for your search engine optimization.
What it will do is make you happier.
With all the rigors of the business world, the long hours, and crushing it 24/7, you may find that your next angel investment could come in the form of a scheduled time away from work to recharge. Investing in yourself is investing in your productivity, longevity, and social life.
And that is one thing that is guaranteed to happen when you take ballroom dance lessons.
