People and Business Systems

The right mix of these two ingredients is how you make social media work for your business. People People are arguably the main ingredient of any business.  This includes your customers, employees, vendors, and other partners that help you take care of those customers.  Without the right ones, it is tough to sustain a profitable […]

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21 Reasons to Blog

1.To build a hub for your social media presence. Everyone needs a home, and your blog can be your home on the Web.  From a social media perspective this is where I live.  This is my foundation where ideas grow into something worth sharing on the other networks – and offline. To get found on […]

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The Simplest Social Media Strategy

involves the application of two skills: Attention and Intention. Attention Are you noticing any changes in the social networks?  I am.  I'm noticing that it is very quiet on Twitter.  This may seem like an odd thing to say because the number of people using Twitter it is huge.  However, unlike when it was young, […]

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How to Use Google Reader with iGoogle

This post will show you how to use Google Reader to easily manage multiple subscriptions to blogs or other news sites.    I have come to learn through my consulting work with small businesses that using a blog reader is not necessarily common knowledge.  And having struggled with it myself, I can understand why.  Like anything […]

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Markets Do Not Like Heavy Hands

In fact, they will fight your heavy-handed tactics with all their might. No Take-Backs Once a condition is introduced to a market, it cannot be taken back – not easily, anyway.   One example is airlines that charge for an extra piece of luggage.  Passengers are discovering creative ways to resist.  One innovative tactic that is […]

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Blog Clues That Get You Hired or Fired

During the commentary of the NFC Championship game between the Vikings and the Saints, it was mentioned that Brett Favre's greatest gift is his ability to read defenses.  He has seen so much action that he is able to identify clues less experienced quarterbacks might overlook.  The readers of your blog are using their experience […]

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Small Business Marketing Talk

"If I had known back then what I do now, I never would have started this business." This is a true statement, and something I used to say from time to time during the 20 years I operated my landscape contracting business. It's something you tend to say when you are experiencing one of the thousands […]

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Your Favorite Social Media Channel

is the one that will yield your greatest social media ROI. Marketing Style If you have been reading this blog for the past year or so, you know I consider your blog to be the center of your social media universe.  This is where you have the largest body of information that speaks favorably about […]

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Small Business DNA

You either have it or you don't. Operating a small business takes a certain mindset.   It's not so much about skills, but how you think.  You need to be intensely interested in learning, and willing to take action.  Most importantly, you must be prepared to do whatever is necessary to ensure the success of […]

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Why Small Businesses Are Confused About Social Media

They are listening to self-described social media experts who have little or no real-world business experience. The Problem Seth Godin recently made an interesting comment on his blog about the evolution of technology trends.   Here's what he said: The early adopters of the technology are the technicians that helped to create it.  For that technology […]

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