Selected by franchiseking

• 
  The Franchise King Blog

• Thank You Note From A New Franchise Owner

  The Franchise King

  7 Nov 2009 | 7:54 am

  Once in awhile, we get kudos from people that we didn't know how much we helped, either professionally, or personally. As someone who helps people change things around, career-wise, it's visually easy to see the impact I can make. I can attend the Grand-Opening's of their new businesses, and see the joy in their eyes. I can also see the community support, as local politicians, and even other small business owners attend these ceremonies. (This picture is from the Just-A Buck Grand Opening in Cleveland, Ohio) Steve and Elaine Giordano just opened a TeamLogic IT franchise, and in their thank…

• Is The US Economy Really Improving?

  The Franchise King

  5 Nov 2009 | 5:54 am

  I keep hearing that the US economy is showing signs of improvement. But, where am I hearing that? Cable news networks Some newspapers Some small business owners  I'm also hearing the opposite. I'm hearing some negative economic news from; Local franchisees Sales managers Auto dealers Family friends Who should I believe? Should I believe; Millionaire news anchors Millionaire business owners Politicians (Some millionaire's there too, by the way) Or should I believe folks that; May be on the verge of losing their homes Have been out of work for 8-9 months Are politicians Do you think that I am…

• Social Media Marketing By Franchise Companies Can't Be A Part-Time Gig

  The Franchise King

  4 Nov 2009 | 2:52 am

                If you are an executive, or even the owner of a franchise concept, don't worry about all the buzz around social media. Don't pressure yourself into doing social media, just because a growing number of other franchisors have started getting their feet wet. Just keep doing what you're doing. I'm sure that you are totally euphoric about your current franchise marketing successes... Being the Community Promotions Director for a powerful and influential website like Small Business Trends has some perks. One of them includes spending a great deal of time actually reading…

• Canadian Franchise Attorney Calls Franchise Ownership "Renting A Business"

  The Franchise King

  3 Nov 2009 | 3:38 am

  Canada has a thriving franchise industry, and a Canadian franchise attorney Tony Wilson points out 3 advantages of franchise ownership; Training in the business model. "They're training you to use their system; training is a huge component in franchising," Wilson says.  Access to a trademark and brand advertising. "That's what franchisees should expect -- to get the benefit of the brand."  Joint purchasing power. "If you're in a buying group with 16 other restaurants, you're going to get your food cheaper than if you're one restaurant buying your product by yourself," Wilson explains.

• Green Auto News; Is This Electric Automaker The Next Green Franchise?

  The Franchise King

  2 Nov 2009 | 12:16 pm

  A Reva Reva has more all-electric vehicles on the road than any other company, but it still has a long haul before it can make the vehicles marketable for the masses. However, last month, the company won a huge and important stamp of approval when GM said it would use Reva’s technology in the electric version of its Chevrolet Spark, a small car whose conventional petrol version GM sells here already. The electric version of the Spark is expected to go on sale in India by the end of next year, according to GM officials. Reva’s technology is “second to none”, said Karl Slym, president…

• 
  Mashable!

• POLL: TweetDeck Trounces Seesmic Desktop in Reader Vote

  Barb Dybwad

  6 Nov 2009 | 8:41 pm

  We’ve had a number of close calls here during our Web Faceoff series, but this wasn’t one of them. This week we pitted TweetDeck and Seesmic Desktop against each other in a bar room brawl for favorite Twitter client. Now, the results are in. Whereas last week’s Windows 7 versus OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard battle was a close one, with Windows 7 going the distance to outlast the current Mac OS, this week’s showdown had a big winner. …and TweetDeck was it, with a full 71% of the vote (3294 votes) as compared to Seesmic Desktop’s 23% (1055 votes). Six percent or 260…

• iPhone Coming to Verizon in 2010 [RUMOR]

  Adam Ostrow

  6 Nov 2009 | 5:21 pm

  Many signs point to the Apple and AT&T agreement that makes the latter the exclusive carrier of the iPhone within the US coming to an end within the next year. For starters, non-exclusivity has been profitable for Apple in other parts of the world. Moreover, even AT&T’s CEO acknowledges the deal won’t last forever. And while Verizon might be all about showing off what Droid does right now, a new report suggests it could become the first carrier other than AT&T to offer iPhone on American soil, starting in the second half of 2010. According to a report obtained by Apple…

• DocVerse Puts Google Docs-Like Collaboration Inside Microsoft Office

  Ben Parr

  6 Nov 2009 | 5:20 pm

  This post is part of Mashable’s Spark of Genius series, which highlights a unique feature of startups. If you would like to have your startup considered for inclusion, please see the details here. The series is made possible by Microsoft BizSpark. Name: DocVerse Quick Pitch: DocVerse brings the collaboration functionality of products like Google Docs to the 600 million users of Word, PowerPoint and Excel. Genius Idea: Collaboration is a key to success in any business, especially when you have a scattered team that needs to work on documents constantly. There are already a lot of options,…

• FishVille Launches on Facebook; It’s Like Underwater FarmVille

  Barb Dybwad

  6 Nov 2009 | 3:56 pm

  We were sort of surprised to discover how many of you proclaim your love for FarmVille, the social farming sim game from Zynga. We reported that the company had trademarked the name FishVille last month, and speculated that an aquatic derivative of the wildly popular social game might be in the works. And indeed it was, with FishVille launching in beta today. It’s a bit of a late contender to the aquarium games space, with Happy Aquarium, Fish World and My Fishbowl all getting a head start. Nevertheless, Zynga has enough clout in the social games space to make FishVille a quick winner…

• 5 Must-Have iPhone Apps for Wine Lovers

  Megan Berry

  6 Nov 2009 | 3:23 pm

  Megan Berry is an evangelist for Mobclix, the industry’s largest mobile ad exchange, working on social media and marketing. She also blogs at The Huffington Post and the Mobclix blog. You can follow her on Twitter as @meganberry, or through the @Mobclix handle. Unsure about mixing your iPhone with wine? Well, if you’re a true vinophile, the iPhone is an amazing device to keep you more connected to your wine. The following list of top wine apps on the iPhone will convince you that mixing the two is worth the risk of spilling some pinot noir on your phone. Like wine itself, these…

• 
  Small Business Trends

• Take the “Leap” to a Richer, More Fulfilling Life and Career

  Ivana Taylor

  7 Nov 2009 | 7:12 am

  Every now and then I’ll open my e-mail to find a personal note from an author who is a regular reader of one of my blogs or the book reviews I do here on Small Business Trends. This is how I came across “Leap: How 3 Simple Changes Can Propel Your Career From Good to Great.” Rick Smith, the author, contacted me.  He asked if I was interested in reviewing his book and sent me an autographed copy. Rick Smith is the co-author of the Wall Street Journal and Business Week bestseller The 5 Patterns of Extraordinary Careers, which has been sold into 13 languages. But before any of…

• Is the Economy Really Improving for Small Business? You Decide

  Denise O'Berry

  6 Nov 2009 | 8:20 am

  As the economists declare we are coming out of the recession, I bet your bottom line tells a different story. After all, they declared the recession months after you had already been knee deep in the throes of the struggle to keep your head above water for many months. But the good news is that the talking heads are discussing a positive outlook on the horizon. That alone helps people feel better about the future. There are plenty of groups talking about how the signs for small business are improving. Let’s take a look at a few of the statistics. PNC Economic Outlook Survey According to the…

• Jumping Through Hoops of Red Tape

  Mark Anderson

  6 Nov 2009 | 4:00 am

  Every company has those rules or policies that just make no sense. I was in sales and wanted to send some promotional items to a promising potential client. I grabbed some golf balls from the supply room and was heading back to my desk when I met my supervisor in the hallway. Excitedly I talked up my great lead and was immediately rebuffed. “Are you crazy?! Do you know how much those cost? We can’t send those out!” I persisted, and after 20 minutes was told I’d have to fill out some paperwork. I’d know in a few weeks. After muttering about jumping through a hoop…

• New IRS Site Simplifies Small-Business Retirement Plans

  Anita Campbell

  5 Nov 2009 | 11:40 am

  The average American’s retirement plan isn’t worth as much as it was a few years ago — but offering such plans is still a huge perk that helps small businesses attract potential employees. No longer are retirement plans just for big companies. You’ll find a good selection of plans out there for companies with only a few employees and even for sole proprietors. However, wading through all your options can be intimidating. To help, the IRS just launched a new Web site, IRS Retirement Plans Navigator, that simplifies the process of choosing and managing a retirement plan by putting…

• How to Be a Renegade At Home

  Lisa Barone

  5 Nov 2009 | 6:30 am

  If you don’t know Jonathan Fields, he’s the author of a book called Career Renegade that shows people how to become entrepreneurs and make a career out of something the love. He’s also a wonderful blogger. In a recent post, Jonathan talks about the renegade employee — basically, how to love what you do in the confines of working for someone else – and outlines eight qualities that must exist. In reading the post, there were a couple of things that struck me. First, I noticed that many of the factors outlined by Jonathan on how to love your job were dependent on your…

• 
  OPEN Forum by American Express OPEN

• What We Can Learn From Designers

  6 Nov 2009 | 2:23 pm

  From Matthew E. May: Warren Berger is the author of Glimmer: How Design Can Transform Your Life and Maybe Even the World, just published by Penguin Press. I found the book to be a breed apart from all of the many design thinking books hitting the shelves, and worth a further look. Question: Why did you write Glimmer? Answer: This book started with me trying to answer for myself the basic question, “What is design?” I’d been writing about it on and off for years, for magazines like Wired, and it was always interesting to me that the term was used in so many different ways. As…

• Market Using Your Grandfather's Business Model: Barter

  6 Nov 2009 | 2:15 pm

  From Shira Levine: No overhead is quite the pleasant notion for small businesses struggling to stay alive and profitable in this economy. Often times advertising, marketing and PR budgets are the first to be slashed when times get tough. Yet those are the very legs that bring more business. Businesses that think outside of the box and even a bit Old Country, using the classic old school barter and applying it online and using social media are finding it easier to keep costs down and their communications departments alive. Bottom line: Hustling an online barter can remove the exchange of…

• The 40-30-30 Rule: Why Risk is Worth It

  6 Nov 2009 | 2:07 pm

  From Michael Schwalbe: Many of the strategies employed in competitive and recreational sports are often applicable in business and our personal lives. One lesson I learned from alpine ski racing was the "40-30-30 Rule." During training, early on, I tried to go fast and I also focused on not falling. On a ride up the ski lift, my coach told me I was missing the point. He explained that success in ski racing, or most sports for that matter, was only 40% physical training. The other 60% was mental. And of that, the first 30% was technical skill and experience. The second 30% was the willingness…

• Student Entrepreneurs Turn Dorm Rooms into Business Offices

  6 Nov 2009 | 1:52 pm

  From Jill Fehrenbacher: Few stages in life are as ripe with learning and experimentation, curiosity and exploration, as one’s college years. College used to be viewed as the last rite of passage prior to entering the ‘real world’ -- the last stop before figuring out what you really wanted to do with your life before taking the plunge. But an increasing amount of enthusiastic college students are pairing their diploma earning efforts with entrepreneurial endeavors, resulting in lofty, passion fueled businesses with dorm room roots. Boldness is a crucial element required…

• Choose the Right Metrics...or Make the Wrong Decisions

  6 Nov 2009 | 1:43 pm

  From John Mariotti: Have you been ill and had a temperature lately?  You probably compared your temperature to “normal” which you were taught for years was 98.6 F.  Wrong.  The correct human body temperature is closer to 98.25F (and that is an average, because there are variations from person to person).  The 98.6F reading was developed in 1868, when Carl Wunderlich published a seminal paper on body temperature in 25,000 adults.  But his study was done using imprecise measuring devices and techniques of that era, yet it has been widely accepted over 100…

• 
  Rush on Business

• Shareholder Agreement Gotcha Under Iowa Business Law?

  2 Nov 2009 | 4:00 am

  Throughout this blog you will see posts that recommend business people enter into a shareholder agreement when they start a corporation with multiple shareholders. But did you know that unless your shareholder agreement states otherwise, your shareholder agreement may only be valid for 10 years pursuant to Iowa corporate law? Chapter 490.732 of the Iowa Code seems to indicate exactly that (although I have never seen it applied in a case yet). I think this is something that maybe even some of the most experienced corporate attorneys may not realize. So don't be surprised. You should…

• What Employers Need to Know About H1N1

  23 Oct 2009 | 5:00 am

  In a recent interview I was asked about what employers need to know about the H1N1 virus as a follow up to my recent post on how employers need to be prepared for H1N1.  I didn't have a lot of time to respond as the question came towards the end of the program and we ran out of time. As a follow up, I thought I would mention that Connecticut employment lawyer, Daniel Schwartz, has a great post on H1N1 and the workplace. Daniel lists some available resources and has several recommendations for employers to get ready for the flu season: Update (or create) a Business Continuity Policy with…

• Insight on Business Interview

  22 Oct 2009 | 5:00 am

  I had the pleasure of sitting down for an interview with Michael Libbie yesterday. We talked blogging, discrimination cases, franchising and other issues. If you didn't catch it live you can watch the podcast here. (The interview begins at about the 30 minute mark). If you haven't heard about Des Moines Local Live, you should check it out. It's an Internet radio station with 50 local radio hosts talking everything from business to sports.  A real testament to Des Moines' Internet-blogging presence.  

• How to Catch the Business Investor's Eye

  19 Oct 2009 | 7:25 pm

  Need capital for your business? Looking for an investor? If so, you should take the opportunity to attend a seminar from the Business Innovation Zone of Central Iowa (BIZ) on how to get your business into shape and attract an investor's eye. Adam Claypool of DeWaay Investment Banking is the speaker. I have worked with Adam on several occasions so I know this will be a worthwhile opportunity to listen to one of central Iowa's more prominent investment bankers. The presentation is this Wednesday, October 21st at the Des Moines Partnership offices, 700 Locust Street, Suite 100, Des Moines, Iowa.

• Negotiating Franchise Agreements

  9 Oct 2009 | 5:00 am

  Franchise attorney Charles Internicola busts the myth that franchise agreements are non-negotiable in his post, Myth:  Is it Illegal for a Franchisor to Negotiate and Modify the Terms of its Franchise Agreement. This is one of the best posts on the subject that I have seen. In addition to the fact that you should take your right to negotiate the franchise agreement seriously, I would encourage you to stay on the alert for other common red flags from franchisors (I have written about these previously but it bears repeating): You don't need a lawyer to review the agreement. I would prefer…

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  The Franchise Blog 4 Vets

• Einstein's Bagels Comes To San Antonio

  The Franchise King

  2 Nov 2009 | 10:31 am

  Charles Loflin, a local San Antonio entrepreneur with ownership in more than 28 eateries, celebrates the grand opening of his Einstein Bros. Bagels franchise location at 12730 IH-10 West in San Antonio, Texas. It is the brand's first franchise location...

• Veteran Takes 7-Eleven Up On It's Veteran Franchise Discount Offer

  The Franchise King

  26 Oct 2009 | 3:21 am

  Randy Harrell and his wife, Kristi, are slated to take over as franchisee in early November at the 7-Eleven store on Dunlawton Avenue in Port Orange, Fla for an undisclosed price. The Air Force Veteran was attracted to the offer...

• 6 Veterans To Compete For A Free Franchise

  The Franchise King

  21 Oct 2009 | 3:26 am

  It's down to six. Six of our best will be competing to win a franchise business package from Atlanta's Maid Brigade Franchise Corp... Continue

• VetFran Offers Great Incentives For Military Veterans

  The Franchise King

  15 Oct 2009 | 2:46 am

  The VetFran program has been around for many years now. Discounts on the up-front franchise fee are a great way to lower one's start-up costs. This blogger has helped two fine military veterans enter the franchise world with VetFran discounts....

• Military Veterans; Maybe You Should Start An Online Learning Company

  The Franchise King

  9 Oct 2009 | 10:37 am

  Online learning. Smart Idea. Not all of you have the financial resources to start a franchise. I'd like to share an alternative. You can still become a small business owner... Is there something that you are an expert at? Maybe...

• 
  Holy Kaw!

• My plug is better than yours

  7 Nov 2009 | 8:38 am

  Who’s got the best power plug? Crave UK answers the question with their tongue somewhat in cheek. Could there be any bias with their #1 plug? I guess the writers don’t travel much and could care less about size. Also, perhaps anthropomorphism is a bit too highly ranked? More intelligent ways to be shocked. Permalink | Leave a comment  »

• 25 wackiest NYC Marathon costumes

  6 Nov 2009 | 11:01 pm

  Running 26.2 miles while sucking down polluted urban air wasn’t quite difficult enough for some jogging fools competing in the New York City Marathon last week, so a handful of creative folks decided to extend Halloween an extra day and run the race while donning costumes. Photogs spotted clowns, super heroes, Uncle Sam, nuns and even an apparently alive Michael Jackson. Lucky for you, you didn’t have to travel all the way to the Big Apple to check out all the shenanigans because Buzz Feed has collected images of the 25 best costumes at the 2009 NYC marathon. Enjoy (and feel lazy…

• Tech that refuses to die

  6 Nov 2009 | 10:26 pm

  Call them the Jason Vorhees of technology—gadgets that just won’t die, no matter how many times you kill ‘em with a chain saw. Tech moves fast,—remember, like 10 years ago you probably had a pager in your pocket—but why is it that some technology seems completely resistant to kicking the bucket? From cables that remain tangled under your desk to the hipsters’ audio format of choice, vinyl, CNet highlights eight tech items that refuse to meet the Grim Reaper. Even Twitter makes a surprise entry on the list. Check out the full list, including why the sans…

• How to change

  6 Nov 2009 | 10:09 pm

  Want to change? Then, according to Peter Bregman, just change one thing. In his case he stopped consuming large amounts of sugar. For me, it would be carbohydrates. But the article isn’t really about dieting—it’s about how to become a better business person, so read it and reap. More Lifehacks. Permalink | Leave a comment  »

• Guess who is a Glamour woman of the year?

  6 Nov 2009 | 9:56 pm

  It’s going to be a long time before I post about anything in Glamour, but this is a special occasion. The magazine named Google’s Marissa Mayer as one of the women of the year for 2009. Joining her is “refuse to use Bluetooth” Maria Shriver and others. The only reason Matt Cutts didn’t win is that he’s a man—despite the concerted efforts of SEO consultants around the world to game the voting.. More, albeit less glamourous, news about Google. Permalink | Leave a comment  »

• 
  DailyFranchiseNews.com

• Happy Holidays…Grab a Gift Card!

  Rhonda Sanderson

  5 Nov 2009 | 11:12 am

  Instead of braving the crowds the week before, snatch up that perfect holiday gift for yourself early courtesy of First Watch: According to Chain Leader, all 80 First Watch daytime cafe locations will offer patrons $20 in Bonus Bucks for every $100 gift card purchase from November 16th through December 24th. "Everyone likes to treat themselves and that can be difficult around the holidays. By receiving an extra $20 to First Watch, customers can enjoy coming to our restaurants without spending any more money,” said Chris Tomasso, First Watch’s chief marketing officer. “The gift card…

• The Triangle Ups its Value

  Rhonda Sanderson

  5 Nov 2009 | 8:28 am

  Though many lodging chains have limited or ceased expansion in the past year, Value Place is taking the exact opposite approach. The News & Observer reported the Wichita-based chain is calling for 500 properties to be built over the next five years – six of which will be in the Triangle area but over the course of 10 years. The first area Value Place will open in Apex in January. That the plans of the Wichita, Kan.-based company have not been scaled back because of the recession speaks to Value Place's no-frills business model. For about $200 a week, plus a $100 damage deposit,…

• We Have a Winner!

  Rhonda Sanderson

  5 Nov 2009 | 7:15 am

  We previously mentioned Cousins Subs’ Facebook Halloween Costume Contest, where individuals could submit photos of themselves in costume in hopes of winning $500 and free subs for a year. Well, a winner has been announced! The Baraboo News Republic reported Baraboo resident Toby Thums and his fiancee, Denise Siedschlag, walked away with the grand prize in the nationwide contest for their costumes as a headless bride and groom. Toby and Denise had a picture snapped of their gruesome getups at a friend’s private Halloween party in Baraboo and then submitted the image through the social…

• Dry Cleaning Station Gets Martinized

  Rhonda Sanderson

  4 Nov 2009 | 12:13 pm

  Martinizing has been the gold standard in dry cleaning since its inception in 1949 and is expanding its presence further with the recent acquisition of Minneapolis-based Dry Cleaning Station. American Drycleaner reported that according to Jerry Laesser, Martinizing’s vice president of marketing and development, it’s anticipated that a combination of 10 Dry Cleaning Station full-service plants will initially convert to the Martinizing brand in four markets, including Denver; Southern California; Tulsa, Okla.; and Minneapolis, with other markets to follow. Martinizing will expand its brand…

• Innovation in Franchising

  Rhonda Sanderson

  2 Nov 2009 | 12:20 pm

  Did you know that McDonald’s Big Mac and Filet-O-Fish wouldn’t exist today if it weren’t for some creative franchisees? AllBusiness.com did and recently set out to find if franchising and innovation go together like two all beef patties, special sauce, lettuce, cheese, pickles, onions and a sesame seed bun. “Some franchisees, and some franchise systems, are more effective when franchisees can innovate,” says John Hayes, a franchise consultant, former franchisee and franchisor, and author of several franchise-related books. “More often, however, when franchisees have to search for…

• 
  How to Change the World

• The 19 bloggers Inc. thinks you should read

  GuyKawasaki

  6 Nov 2009 | 6:20 pm

  Inc. named 19 bloggers that you should read. We’ve aggregated them all in one place: Inc19.alltop.

• How to Get Found

  GuyKawasaki

  4 Nov 2009 | 3:29 pm

  The reality is that people and technology is getting better and better a blocking out unwanted interruptions—aka, “marketing.” Brian Halligan is the CEO of HubSpot, and he explains in my post on the American Express Open Forum “how to get found.” It’s all about creating great stuff and letting Google et al do what they do: find great stuff.

• How I tweet

  GuyKawasaki

  2 Nov 2009 | 8:47 am

  By popular demand (and some complaints), I’ve done a FAQ with myself about how I tweet. Hope this helps you use Twitter for your business too. I explain how I use ghostwriters and why I repeat my tweets among other “unusual” practices.

• Current Twitter Demo Script

  GuyKawasaki

  28 Oct 2009 | 2:26 am

  This is the set of links that I used to demo Twitter by going down through this list to show why Twitter is such a valuable marketing tool. Introduction Home page Profile page Monitor Search Guy Kawasaki or Alltop Starbucks VIA introduction Search for “Prius” or “Civic” Sell Dell Outlet Kogi BBQ Support Comcast Cares Engage JetBlue Virgin America Fandango Prospect Camaro Camaro near Palo Alto Advanced searches Surfing or skateboarding (shows how to eliminate extraneous results such as “surfing the web” How I Tweet - Find Alltop MyAlltop helped me find this.

• How to Avoid Twitter Cluelessness

  GuyKawasaki

  26 Oct 2009 | 4:24 pm

  Over at the American Express Open Forum blog, I explain how to not look clueless on Twitter. The first five ways are: Don’t tell other people how to tweet. Don’t tell the world that you unfollowed someone. Don’t ask people why they unfollowed you. Don’t constantly tweet mundane updates and babble. Don’t use a small picture for an avatar. To read all ten and why they impugn your intelligence, click here.

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  b5media: Franchise Pick

• Consumer Spending Fell in September

  Kori Ellis

  31 Oct 2009 | 12:29 am

  A new report issued by the Commerce Department has shown that average consumer spending fell in September for the first time in five months, a development that has been attributed to the ending of the Cash for Clunkers automotive rebate program. This drop in consumer spending matching analyst estimates and follows a 1.4 percent jump in the previous month. Image: istockphoto Consumer confidence has taken a hit in recent months because of stagnant wages and growing unemployment, two factors that have raised worries that consumers will cut back spending in the coming months. Analysts also worry…

• Consumer Electronics Makers Recovering

  Kori Ellis

  30 Oct 2009 | 8:29 pm

  The consumer electronics industry has been hit especially hard by the recession and slow consumer spending, as electronics are among the first things that many families cut back on when money is tight. However, several consumer electronics companies, including Sony and Panasonic, have posted results that may signal some recovery in the market. Image: Flickr Sony just posted its fourth-consecutive quarterly loss on Friday, a fact that is troublesome on its own. However, the brighter outlook on the global economy and cost-cutting measures have allowed Sony to trim its loss forecast for the year…

• Chevron 3Q Profit Down 51 Percent

  Stephen Kersey

  30 Oct 2009 | 8:14 am

  Though production is up, Chevron, the nation’s second largest oil and gas producer, posted overall profits down 51 percent to $3.83 billion, or $1.92 per share, in comparison with the same three-month period last year. The company did increase oil production by 11 percent. The average sale price was $62 per barrel — definitely better than last quarter but still far below the $103 per barrel during the same period in 2008. Image: Flickr “We continued to experience weak margins on the sale of gasoline and other refined products,” said Chairman and CEO Dave OReilly.

• PC Backup Startup Names New CEO

  Stephen Kersey

  28 Oct 2009 | 8:55 pm

  One of the hottest industries in the online world is PC backups. There are a number of major players in this industry, which wants to capitalize on the market that is filled with consumers who want to backup their important data from their PC quickly, easily and without paying a fortune. Rebit.com is one player in the PC backup market. Recently, this startup named Paul Guerin as its CEO. Guerin has worked for a number of major corporations including Lotus, IBM and GTSI. He has also worked for a few startups including Jabber, Torrent Systems and Digital Archaeology. Said Guerin, who steps into…

• Goodbye From Small Business

  Linette Gerlach

  28 Oct 2009 | 1:26 pm

  Bizzia Small Business will be going away and merging with some of the content at EveryJoe starting tomorrow, so I wanted to bid you all a fond farewell since I will not be writing here any more. You can still find me several other places online, give me a shout out on Twitter sometime I’m @Linetteg there. I’d love to hear from you. You can also stop by and visit me at one of my other blogs. Mostly I blog about parties and entertaining, with a little kid’s stuff thrown in for fun. So, if you like parties or kids (and who doesn’t like kids!) stop by The Kid’s…

• 
  Franchise Talk

• Potbelly Sandwiches Looking To Open In Louisville

  Jack

  6 Nov 2009 | 9:26 am

  Louisville Courier-Journal: Chicago-based Potbelly Sandwich Works is looking for franchisees to open stores in the Louisville area. The chain, which has more than 200 corporate-owned locations, specializes in warm sandwiches and milkshakes. Stores also feature live local music. “Qualified, married couples and life partner teams who are sincere about integrating Potbelly into the fabric of Louisville’s communities are ideal franchisee candidates,” the company said in a prepared statement, adding that each store would employ about 25. Related posts:Nordsee To Open First Mideast Outlet…

• Sport Clips Franchise Coming To Palestine

  Jack

  6 Nov 2009 | 9:18 am

  Palestine Herald Press: Sport Clips, the nation’s leading men’s and boys’ hair-care franchise, will soon open a store in Palestine. The store, to be located at 419 Old Elkhart Rd. (next to Wal-Mart Supercenter), will be the newest addition to the franchisee’s three existing stores in the Tyler area. “Everyone needs a haircut, and we’ve been true to our mission of creating a championship haircut experience for men and boys in an exciting sports environment. That’s why the Sport Clips concept continues to grow here in East Texas and across the country,” said Brad Anderson, Sport…

• Small Brands, Big Canvas

  Jack

  6 Nov 2009 | 9:00 am

  Fibre2fashion.com: Driving a revival in the country’s apparel business after a tough year is a slew of regional brands mushrooming in smaller cities and towns across the country that are now attracting the attention of private equity players. Brands such as Liverpool Retail India’s Barcelona, Vir Retail’s John Hill and Nahar Group’s Cotton County that sell outfits at less than one-third the price of national brands are opening stores faster than the cautious national brands. These brands operate in the Rs.150-600 price band, working on low margins and fast stock…

• Growth Like Mushrooms

  Jack

  6 Nov 2009 | 8:57 am

  Financial Mail: Fruit & Veg City is the latest retailer to partner with a fuel business to run a garage at its forecourt shops. The company has struck an alliance with US oil major Chevron, which was looking to exit the convenience retail business. “Chevron wanted to concentrate on fuel,” says Fruit & Veg City MD Brian Coppin. “And it wanted a retail partner who would grow its convenience channel for it.” Chevron’s 188 Star Mart shops will be rebranded Freshstop. The product range – which was really just “cokes, smokes and chips”, says…

• Fiesta Auto Insurance Navigates The Streets Of Franchising And Finds Success

  Jack

  6 Nov 2009 | 6:20 am

  dBusinessNews Los Angeles: Fiesta Auto Insurance has the policy entrepreneurs need to insure their financial future: a dynamic franchise investment with multiple revenue streams that serve the needs of millions of consumers in America. The nation’s only insurance and tax preparation franchise is driving aggressive growth nationwide as it combines two highly attractive business models under one roof. Quadrupling its presence to more than 80 units sold during the past 10 months, Fiesta Auto Insurance is turning heads in the franchise investment community amid a down economy. “We are opening…

• 
  THE BIZOP NEWS

• MoneyGram Scam and Gate Keeper Liability

  bizop

  3 Nov 2009 | 9:42 am

  MoneyGram International, Inc., the second-largest money transfer service in the United States, will pay $18 million in consumer redress to settle FTC charges that the company allowed its money transfer system to be used by fraudulent telemarketers to bilk U.S. consumers out of tens of millions of dollars. MoneyGram also will be required to implement a comprehensive anti-fraud and agent-monitoring program. The FTC charged that between 2004 and 2008, MoneyGram agents helped fraudulent telemarketers and other con artists who tricked U.S. consumers into wiring more than $84 million within the…

• Avoid Responsibility and Live Better

  bizop

  2 Nov 2009 | 5:34 am

  "When you can blame someone else (or the gods of spite, chance and bad luck) it's emotionally safer than it is to acknowledge you made a lousy choice.If the weather is freakishly bad on your vacation, you can embrace pity from your friends, and spend your angst cursing the storms.On the other hand, if you book a trip in the middle of hurricane season, you've got no one to blame but yourself."  Seth Godin on ResponsibilityAcknowledging that you made a mistake challenges your sense of identity.  I could not have bought this ridiculous business opportunity because I am not a foolish…

• The Franchise Wars: Apple v Windows

  bizop

  22 Oct 2009 | 9:03 am

  Image via WikipediaIn the franchise war between Apple and Windows, I am a Mac fan. I wasn't always a Mac guy, I used a PC from the earlier 1980's up until 1997. I still have the second Mac I ever bought, a Power Mac 7300. It runs some games, and old teaching programs for our small children. Mostly, however, they use a very old G3 Beige Tower for games and teaching programs. Don't get the wrong idea, I do work on PC's and have a couple of them lying around, running the latest version of XP. But the machines are over 8 years olds, and I was looking to replace them, probably with the latest…

• Be Your Own Boss

  bizop

  19 Oct 2009 | 10:17 pm

  I had posted this before, but I wanted to included some testimony from Jim Vitale, the swarthy looking con criminal in this FTC video. Pay close attention to Vitale's description of method, because it is relevant to more than simply buying business opportunities. Compare the pithiness of Vitale's advice: Fast no's and slow, slow yeses, to the FTC's advice about getting the disclosure document. From Vitale's testimony to the FTC My name is Jim Vitale. I was involved in sales of business opportunities for seven years. I participated in a lot of illegal and fraudulent activities that surround…

• BlogMasterMind, Testimonials and Seller Assisted Marketing Plans

  bizop

  19 Oct 2009 | 2:43 pm

  Image via WikipediaThis is a post designed to show the interactions between a) an internet marketing program, b) the FTC new rule on testimonials, and c) a particular State business opportunity rule, in this case, the California "Seller Assisted Marketing Plans" Act.Paul Schlegel, who writes a very useful blog, called WorkatHomeTruth, has wondered why nobody by me, apparently, is pointing out to affiliate marketers their legal liabilities under the US State's business opportunities acts.Most of the affiliate marketers have also misunderstood the FTC's new rule on testimonials and the…

• 
  Franchise News Wire by Franchising.com

• Gap Brings Stella Mccartney For Gapkids Holiday 2009 Collection T0 Los Angeles's Robertson Boulevard

  6 Nov 2009 | 8:40 am

  This holiday seasonGap is bringing the new babyGap and GapKids Holiday collection designed by Stella McCartney to Los Angeles's fashion-savvy kids with a pop-up store on the famed Robertson Boulevard. The exclusive Stella McCartney for GapKids Pop-Up...

• Second Blenz In Vernon: First Drive-Thru In The Chain

  6 Nov 2009 | 8:15 am

  Situated in northern Vernon in the centre of a rapidly developing area, this Blenz is bordered by the highway, mountains, a new casino, and Vernon's only Real Canadian Superstore right across the street. With most of the neighbourhood's population...

• Nurse Next Door Looks To Provide Safer Living For Local Seniors During National Fall Prevention Week 2009

  6 Nov 2009 | 8:10 am

  With the majority of accidental deaths among seniors aged 75 and older the result of falls, fall prevention has become an increasingly important issue in Canada. With this knowledge, Nurse Next Door is giving back to the communities it serves through...

• Five Star Painting Expands Into Boston, Massachusetts With A New Franchisee

  6 Nov 2009 | 8:05 am

  Five Star Painting, the world's fastest-growing painting franchise company is happy to announce new members to their team, Steven Oransky and Carmelina Procaccini, who recently purchased a new franchise in Boston, MA. Steve and Carmelina are excited...

• ActionCOACH South Africa Team Continues It's Growth Path

  6 Nov 2009 | 8:00 am

  Since it's launch in South Africa in June 2007, ActionCOACH - The World's Number One Business Coaching Firm has now grown to a team of 15 experienced Coaches operating primarily in Gauteng, Kwa - Zulu Natal and in the Western Cape.

• 
  NEO Biz Blog

• Suburban Cleveland Politics Getting Ugly; Op-Ed

  The Franchise King

  26 Oct 2009 | 2:38 pm

  I opened my residential University Heights mailbox to this, today;(I consolidated it.)"He has been a councilman for only 1.5 years, and has no in-depth concept of running a city. He is only interested in the bottom line, but a city is much more than that.Is he the kind of person you want leading this city beginning in 2010? He does not care, nor is he interested in the more than 30 programs, in addition to basic services we offer."--Mayor Beryl RothschildThis is her "goodbye" letter to the residents of University Heights.How does she know that Frank Consolo (The "he" in her nasty letter)…

• The Innovation Tour For Ohio Jobs Is Launched

  The Franchise King

  24 Oct 2009 | 11:37 am

  From Ohio's Secretary Of State;"My campaign for the U.S. Senate is launching our "Innovation Tour for Ohio Jobs." The history of Ohio maps a trail of innovation over time and geography that sets Ohio apart from so many other states. In times like these, when we focus on what has made our state realize progress, I am struck by the wealth that is our very people. I have often said that our diversity is our greatest strength. When it comes to ways to promote economic progress for Ohio, we need only start with our people to see our potential. My Senate candidacy is about the kind of leadership…

• Cleveland Sales Expert Launches Her First Book

  The Franchise King

  20 Oct 2009 | 2:50 pm

  Diane Helbig has written a book on sales, and it's not a lemon. As a matter of fact, it's a lemonade stand... She has targeted small business owners and managers, in an effort to help them sell! Read more

• Chocolate Bar To Open In Downtown Cleveland

  The Franchise King

  14 Oct 2009 | 6:37 am

  That's right. For folks like me who don't drink alcohol, but do eat chocolate, there's going to be a bar for us! Right in downtown Cleveland-The Gateway District..Check out the first ever Cleveland Chocolate Bar...

• Women Impacting Public Policy CEO Barbara Kasoff To Address Women Business Owners Oct. 28th

  The Franchise King

  12 Oct 2009 | 3:50 am

  A broad cross section of women business leaders across the region will participate in a panel discussion about today’s changing economic times and the policies that are important to women business owners. Attendees will get the information, tools and resources needed to grow a business and compete successfully for public/private sector contracts.The keynote speaker is Barbara Kasoff, President and CEO and Co-Founder of Women Impacting Public Policy, Inc., a non-profit, bi-partisan public policy advocacy organization with over half a million members, including 49 business organizations,…

• 
  ReadWriteWeb

• Weekly Wrapup: Mega Content Sites, Gen Y on Twitter, iPhone App Recommendation Services, And More...

  7 Nov 2009 | 5:00 am

  In this edition of the Weekly Wrapup - our newsletter summarizing the top stories of the week - we analyze a new breed of content site that is rapidly gaining momentum, look into recent statistics showing that Gen Y is using Twitter more, compare five recommendation services for iPhone apps, review the new-look MSN, and more. We also check in on our two main channels: ReadWriteEnterprise (devoted to 'enterprise 2.0' trends and products) and ReadWriteStart (dedicated to profiling startups and entrepreneurs). Sponsor Subscribe to Weekly Wrapup You can subscribe to the Weekly Wrapup by RSS or by…

• Straw Man Argument About Enterprise 2.0 Doesn't Fly

  6 Nov 2009 | 2:05 pm

  Dennis Howlett got the attention of the Enterprise 2.0 community today, with his continued skepticism about "social" technologies and their place in the business world. Here's a quote from his post entitled Enterprise 2.0 - the non-debate: "Why am I not surprised? I've argued for years that the notion of anything that has 'social' attached to its moniker is about as welcome as breaking wind in a spacesuit." Sponsor While Howlett makes a few good points in his post, we think that he's making a straw man argument - that the Enterprise 2.0 community is somehow involved in a big lie. The reality…

• Clicker: A One-Stop Shop For Online Video (1000 Invites)

  6 Nov 2009 | 1:00 pm

  Finding specific online videos from TV networks and independent producers can often be a daunting challenge. Some TV shows are on Hulu, some can only be found as paid downloads on iTunes or Amazon and some are only available for streaming on the network's and producer's own sites. Clicker wants to change this by making it easier to find shows from TV networks, music videos, and web videos from across the Internet. Clicker is currently in private beta and only available in the US. The company gave us 1000 invites for our readers. Read on to find out how you can get yours. Sponsor Clicker…

• Layar Tells CNN: Augmented Reality Will Be Second Only to Voice On Phones

  6 Nov 2009 | 12:17 pm

  When you've got a global audience, maybe it's good to make sweeping, ambitious statements. Maarten Lens-Fitzgerald, co-founder of Augmented Reality browser company Layar, was interviewed by CNN today and took the opportunity to claim that AR on phones is going to be so big in the future that only voice will be more popular. Maybe. Many people in the Augmented Reality world are rolling their eyes at Layar's incredible media exposure. They worry that relatively simple implementations of this technology paradigm will create such a bubble of hype that software developed over decades will suffer…

• Remixing Via iPhone: 5 Tools for the Pocket DJ

  6 Nov 2009 | 11:00 am

  In 1906 John Philip Sousa criticized the gramophone saying, "These talking machines will ruin the artistic development of music in this country." Nevertheless, because Sousa did not forsee user-generated culture proliferating alongside "mechanical music" he could not have been further from the truth. Not only have machine technologies aided in musical development, but there are a variety of mediums to choose from. While audio engineers may scoff at the idea of making music on the iPhone, there's no denying that a number of options exist for the pocket DJ. Below are a few tools to get you…

• 
  Social Media Marketing

• What's a Brand to Do?

  Scott Monty

  29 Oct 2009 | 9:03 am

  Say you work for a brand. Customers have more access to you than ever - and you've got a wealth of choices as far as channels go: traditional marketing, online & interactive, gaming, mobile, social media, etc. But for your customers that are interested in interacting online, what do you think they want from you? And what should you do when you connect with them? Look no further! eMarketer Daily has very helpfully published a piece on Lightspeed Research's "Global Web Index." What do customer want from the brands they love? Information, mostly (well, after a good discount, anyway).

• Recent Twitter Statistics

  Scott Monty

  28 Oct 2009 | 6:50 am

  The Pew Internet & American Life Project has released some statistics about Twitter and other similar services that Americans use to post updates about themselves. The bottom line? About one in five Americans uses such a service.Click here for a larger image.Another interesting phenomenon is that we're seeing more young people using Twitter now. There have been anecdotal reports that young people were shying away from Twitter, but we can see the hard numbers here:The median age for Twitter is now 31, while MySpace is down 26 from its previous 27 in May of 2008; and Facebook has risen…

• No Kidding

  Scott Monty

  21 Oct 2009 | 9:21 am

  I originally wrote this over a year ago, but I think it deserves another go around, as there seem to be even more social media "experts" out there. Please add your suggestion to the comments section or on Twitter with the hashtag #smbulb and let's see how many responses we can get. Stop me if you've heard this. Yesterday, I asked a question on Twitter - one that Joseph Jaffe rhetorically asked on his blog - I posed it as a joke and asked for responses. The question was: How many social media experts does it take to change a lightbulb? My original answer on Joe's blog was: "309. One to come up…

• Why Apple & Google Win - and Your Company Doesn't

  Scott Monty

  10 Oct 2009 | 7:03 pm

  It's all about usability.      Common sense dictates that the easier something is to accomplish, the more readily it will be passed along. What information do you ask your customers to submit? And of that, which is really necessary? Less is more.   Courtesy of Stuff That Happens.   Posted via web from The Full Monty

• Don't Waste My Time

  Scott Monty

  4 Oct 2009 | 9:19 pm

  I'm perfectly capable of wasting it myself.   According to a recent poll by Ruder Finn, 100% of the people on the Internet go online to pass the time. But what other activities do they say they primarily use it for?   For those of you interested in the social space, 92% want to connect with others, 76% wish to discuss, 72% aspire to be part of a community, and 56% desire to influence others, and 52% hope to activate support. Those are pretty strong numbers.   Especially when you compare them to the percentage of people who wish to manage finances, comparison shop or join a…

• 
  Marketing Profs Daily Fix

• Paul Williams: Catch More Fish With The Right Lure, In The Right Waters

  6 Nov 2009 | 5:30 am

  A couple of fishermen are hanging out in their local bait shop. One has a new product idea for out-of-town visitors. Sell a lake map and fishing lure combo. Take specific fishing lures and tape them to the different lakes on the map. This way the out-of-towner will know the proper bait to use at each particular lake, and will lead to a more successful fishing experience. If you're at Watermans Reservoir and want to catch a Northern Pike, you need a spinner lure. At Worden's Pond after Jackfish? Use a fish-imitation lure or cut bait.* Here comes the business segue... We marketers and business…

• Gavin Heaton: On Generosity and Grace

  5 Nov 2009 | 6:35 am

  We are marked each day by the casual collisions that are the artefacts of our existence. There are phone calls, messages and the relative anonymity of online interactions. And in the search for connection, communion or community, we thoughtlessly mistake message for meaning, words for action and interaction for friendship. It’s a confusion of intention – and we are the poorer for it.When I began writing my blog I did so with no expectation of return. Like a long-dead star, I felt that I was emitting the weakest of signals with no hope of a destination. The gravity of my expectations was…

• Ann Handley: What's New: Introducing Our New Mobile Marketing Newsletter

  5 Nov 2009 | 6:28 am

  You know the end of every calendar year brings a bounty of blog posts and articles carrying business predictions for the New Year? Year after year for the past several years, pundits have prognosticated the rise of Mobile Marketing. And then year after year, it has failed to live up to its promise. Instead, Mobile seems stuck on the sidelines, perpetually benched. But with recent developments in the mobile space, it seems the prediction is now (finally) reality. I’ll even go out on a limb and make my own prediction: Mobile Marketing is here to stay. That’s why we’ve just launched a new…

• Suzanne Lowe: Digital Versus Paper: What's The Future For Professional Services?

  4 Nov 2009 | 5:50 am

  In the past several weeks, I've encountered questions about the effectiveness of digital marketing versus paper-driven communications. A recent WSJ piece "Marketers Still Prefer a Paper Trail," asserts that people are motivated to go to a Web site to buy when they see an item in a catalog. Some of my marketing communication friends tell me that their professional service clients are producing print newsletters in addition to (and in some cases, instead of) digital newsletters. They say, "my clients' clients are so overwhelmed with emails that they actually appreciate print newsletters!" It's…

• Kathy Bushman: Still Questioning The Value In Social Media

  3 Nov 2009 | 7:04 am

  I had the pleasure of attending the Social Media Business Forum (#smbf) that took place October 23rd in Durham, NC. It’s the first event that was put on by Jeff Cohen, Wayne Sutton, and Ryan Boyles of OurHashtag, and Kipp Bodnar of Howard Merrell & Partners. They are passionate about teaching business people how to benefit from using social media and are responsible for many of the social media events and tweet-ups in the “Triangle” (Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill) North Carolina area. Jeff Cohen told me that they recognized a real need for business people to be educated on social media and…

• 
  The Marketing Minute

• How do you see your clients

  Drew McLellan

  5 Nov 2009 | 10:21 pm

  A client of ours, E-Myth Benchmark, who does excellent work with small business leaders (including yours truly) has this philosophy about their clients:"Our clients are much greater than they know.  It's our honor to help them discover that truth about themselves."Imagine if every time you answered the phone, shot off an e-mail or met with a client, you were filled with that attitude.   How might that change the dynamics of your relationship?  How would a bit of reverence change your company's culture?I've said it before....if you can't…

• Free chapter chock full of marketing "ah ha!"

  Drew McLellan

  3 Nov 2009 | 7:30 pm

  I love many things about blogging and social media.  But the #1 reason I love it is because it has afforded me the opportunity to meet some really wonderful, smart people. And sometimes it feels as though we've known each other forever.  That's certainly true for me of Gavin Heaton, CK, Lori Magno, Luc Debaisieux and many others.  But there's this agency guy named Jay Heyman who lives in New York City -- and he and I connect in a whole different way.  For some odd reason, we end up writing posts on the same subject or about the same subject on a regular basis! Which of…

• What I'm reading (11/01/09)

  Drew McLellan

  1 Nov 2009 | 6:57 am

  Sorry I've been lax with this feature in October.  It wasn't that I was not reading....but I've been on the road and at conferences just about all month and I just didn't have time to get this post built.None the less, here's what I've been reading these past few weeks and my take on each. Word of Mouth Marketing by Andy Sernovitz (buy it here) If you think you've already read this book -- you haven't.  Andy did a revised version in early 2009 and added lots of new case studies, worksheets and even some new chapters.  So don't be fooled.

• How to make time for social media: Twitter

  Drew McLellan

  31 Oct 2009 | 6:53 pm

  As I traverse across the country talking about social media, whether it's with clients one-on-one or with conference attendees from a stage -- the "I don't have time" mantra is a common response to the conversation.   I'm with you.  I get the time crunch thing.  I'm caught between that same rock and hard place.  But...I have figured out some ways to create time/time savers when it comes to social media.  So, I thought I would share what works for me, with the hopes that you can steal some of these ideas/tools. I'm not saying…

• If they'll play on your site, they'll pay on your site

  Drew McLellan

  29 Oct 2009 | 2:00 am

  Last year, I told you about Meijer, a 180 big box store in the Midwest and the very cool promotion they unleashed on Chicago and Cincinnati around Halloween.  Their headless horseman rode wild through the streets...having some fun scaring the downtown crowd. Well this year, they've upped the ante.  They've created a 3D experience where you can "put on a mask" and record a Halloween greeting.  Basically, it's a digital hologram called augmented reality.  (Kevin Dugan explains it better than I can.)Using this technology and your webcam, you can…

• 
  Business Week: Small Business

• Don't Be Tempted by 'Shelf Corporations'

  7 Nov 2009 | 8:27 am

• The R&D Tax Credit Plays Hard to Get

  7 Nov 2009 | 8:27 am

• A Typical Entrepreneur's Aspirations

  6 Nov 2009 | 7:45 am

  Most believe new businesses provide substantial economic benefits. Scott Shane explains why this isn't normally the case

• Tax Planning in 2009

  6 Nov 2009 | 7:43 am

  Because of poor sales and pending legislation, common tax strategies might not apply to this year. Meet with your accountant and consider this advice

• Watchdogs: 'Shell' Schemes Are on the Rise

  5 Nov 2009 | 8:40 pm

  When corporate identities and credit histories are for sale, the potential for fraud is part of the package

• 
  MarketingProfs - Smart thinking ... pass it on.

• Four Case Studies: How These (Very Different) B2B Organizations Are Succeeding With Social Media

  3 Nov 2009 | 8:00 am

  Even though B2C companies get the lion's share of coverage about the benefits of social media, B2B organizations of vastly different sizes and industries are making striking gains in employing these technologies to increase their market share and solve revenue challenges.

• The Three Most Popular Social Networks for Business (and Why You Should Use Them)

  3 Nov 2009 | 8:00 am

  An ancient proverb states that a "cord of three strands is not easily broken." By way of analogy, I hypothesize that the more individual connections to a particular person you have, the stronger your overall relationship with that person will be. In constructing my social graph (i.e., my network of connections), ...

• Marketing: Beware of 'Outkicking the Coverage'

  3 Nov 2009 | 8:00 am

  Although football metaphors abound in business, this article explores the idea of "outkicking your coverage," which is when an overly strong player can actually be harmful to a team's performance. "Outkicking" refers to when an exceptional punter kicks the ball so far down the field that the runner for the receiving ...

• Making Your Email 'Social-able'

  3 Nov 2009 | 8:00 am

  Take a minute and think about the folks with whom you socialize. You may have a professional network (LinkedIn) and a personal network (Facebook). You may tweet for fun or business, or for both—or maybe you just follow some sports figures on Twitter to keep up to date on the ...

• Proving ROI for Search-Engine Optimization

  3 Nov 2009 | 8:00 am

  Search-engine optimization (SEO) provides several return on investment (ROI) measures that can have a positive impact on a company's bottom line far more visibly than most marketing tactics. Yet despite all the potential, and the many SEO success stories, it can still be surprisingly difficult to make a case for investment ...

• 
  A n n a r c h y

• Georgie: A Rescue Story

  Ann Handley

  6 Nov 2009 | 7:03 am

  This morning I got an update on a former foster dog — a Cavalier King Charles spaniel who lived with us two years ago, from just prior to Halloween to just before Christmas. The dog had some kind of skin condition and arrived hairless, itchy, raw, reddened and miserable. He was about as sad as sad can look. He didn’t come with a name, so I named him Georgie, because his naked face reminded me of the  illustration of the children’s book character Curious George. Another volunteer, Huntly, picked Georgie up in Vermont and a mutual friend delivered him as far as a highway exit…

• Today’s Guessing Game: What Is It?

  Ann Handley

  3 Nov 2009 | 12:29 pm

  Remember AOL disks? If you owned a mailbox in the late 1990s or early-2000s, you know what I mean, because America Online’s aggressive direct mail strategy probably distributed CD-ROMs and diskettes into it with irritating frequency. More than a billion disks were mailed between the late 1990s and 2006, when AOL stopped the mass mailing. Or mass irritation. However you look at it. In fact, the end of that era likely came without you being aware that is was, in fact, the end of an era. But that’s how evolution is, right? One day you have to bungee-wrap your trash cans against the…

• Wagging the Dog

  Ann Handley

  13 Oct 2009 | 7:46 am

  I had some happy news last week: The story of Gigi’s adventure with her beloved green tomato has been picked up by The Bark, a magazine I happen to love. In other words, if I were a dog, my tail would be wagging like that of a retriever with a tennis ball. (Or Gigi herself with a pork chop.) Big shout here to The Bark editor Lisa Wogan for making it happen. If you don’t know The Bark, it’s a bi-monthly magazine about modern dog culture, with a literary twist. If NPR’s office dog hung around after hours, The Bark might be what he’d produce as his moonlighting…

• Now a Mini Motion Picture: ‘Gigi Spies a Green Tomato’

  Ann Handley

  30 Sep 2009 | 10:10 am

  My childhood friend Ron Ploof was so inspired by the pathos of Gigi’s story that he adapted it to the small screen. I think he did a fine job with it, and I particularly like the tweak of the ending. So what do you think? Gigi Spies a Green Tomato from Ron Ploof on Vimeo.

• Gigi Spies a Green Tomato: A Tragicomedy in Five Parts

  Ann Handley

  26 Sep 2009 | 6:16 pm

  The stage: A small wooden deck with sturdy balusters, overlooking a vegetable garden in late season. Enter main character: Gigi, a 6-year-old Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. It’s clear from her saunter that Gigi is unhurried and uncomplicated, and her portly figure implies a dog who is enthusiastic about her meals. Suddenly, Gigi sees something that piques her interest, and a drama ensues. Scene 1: Gigi spies a green tomato that has fallen from its vine in the garden. From the glint in her eye and quickening of her step, it’s clear she considers the green tomato a tasty prize…

• 
  Small Business Labs

• Intuit Trends - Social Data on Small Businesses

  Steve

  5 Nov 2009 | 1:00 am

  "Social data" is the buzzword that describes sharing aggregate or summarized data collected from or contributed by large numbers of users.  A good example of social data is Intuit Trends, an early alpha product available on Intuit Labs.  Trends uses aggregated company financial data collected from the online version of the accounting package Quickbooks.  The application lets small business owners, managers and their advisers explore industry financial trends, share observations, and compare their performance with their peers and/or competitors.

• The Growth of Small Business Analytics

  Steve

  4 Nov 2009 | 1:06 am

  There were two very interesting blog posts related to the use of analytics by small businesses over the last week.  Both caught my eye as interesting examples of the trend towards analytical software and automation. The first comes from Tim Berry's blog via MyVenturepad.  Tim writes about the Huffington Post using A/B testing to pick article headlines.  Online A/B testing is a process where different people are randomly shown different versions of a web page, or in this case different article headlines.  After testing with a number of people, the…

• When Do Megatrends Matter?

  Steve

  3 Nov 2009 | 8:45 am

  An interesting part of the trends business is trend identification is easy.  The hard part is figuring out when a trend will have broad impact and matter to businesses.  iMedia Connection's article 5 Marketing Megatrends You Can't Ignore looks at megatrends that marketers should care about.  The author defines megatrends as: "What's a megatrend, you ask? It's something big. I'm talking really big. Think of a giant unstoppable tsunami of change transforming society as we know it. Think global warming scale -- then apply it to mass human…

• Traditional Business Media Cuts; New Media Grows

  Steve

  2 Nov 2009 | 9:00 am

  Good article in the NY Times about traditional media business publications reducing staff and coverage.  The usual reasons - lack of advertising, readers fleeing print publications for online, etc. - are given for the decline.  The article goes on to talk about readers being less interested in business news.  This simply isn't true.  If you add in business coverage coming from new media companies like TechCrunch and others, you find that overall business related media coverage and readership has increased over the last decade. What is true is there much less…

• Is Facebook Taking Over the Web?

  Steve

  30 Oct 2009 | 2:00 am

  With Twitter getting so much attention these days, Facebook almost seems to have drifted into the background.  But the more you look at data on web traffic, the more you realize how big a force Facebook has become.  The chart below is from Mary Meeker's presentation at the Web 2.0 conference a few weeks ago.  It clearly illustrates Facebook's rapid rise to key web player status.   Marketing Charts has another angle on the growth of Facebook.  Their chart (below and sourced from Nielsen) shows the top 10 U.S. Web brands by unique visitors and time…

• 
  Tim Berry: Planning, Startups, Stories

• The Best Startup Funding is Initial Sales

  Tim Berry

  6 Nov 2009 | 5:06 am

  We all forget too easily: the best startup funding is sales. Sure, angel investment, friends and family, SBA loans, all of those options are necessary for most startups. But sales is better. If you can, find the early customers. Give them a deal, make them important, work with them to optimize their needs; but make a sale. Even if you need to go out and find investment — and I speak now as an actual angel investor — there’s almost nothing as convincing as actual sales. People are spending money. It makes a new business proposal far more credible. True, not all businesses can…

• One Problem with Entrepreurship Education

  Tim Berry

  5 Nov 2009 | 5:57 am

  I’m not saying this is the only problem. And, by the way, I’m in favor of entrepreneurship education, when it’s done well. I think it helps … but that’s another post. It’s a simple story. It’s a real problem with business education concerning entrepreneurship in top institutions. It happens way too often. Not that it’s the only problem with entrepreneurship education, but it’s harder to spot. Take an imaginary person named Leslie who’s interested in entrepreneurship and wants to study it and then teach it, as a career. Here’s…

• The Joy of User Revolts

  Tim Berry

  4 Nov 2009 | 5:47 am

  It’s not that surprising, really; and we’ve seen it before with Facebook. When Twitter released a new feature, and it’s users didn’t like it, they had to change it back. The Wired Magazine online story is Mob Rule! How Users Took Over Twitter. I found it interesting reading. For the same kind of thing in Facebook, here’s a link to a Google search for “Facebook user revolt.” The user revolt is a high-class problem. It’s the trappings of success. It means 1) you have users; 2) they care about what you’re doing with the site they use; and 3) there’s a forum or medium they can…

• Why Worry About Spelling? Who Cares!

  Tim Berry

  3 Nov 2009 | 6:05 am

  I’ve complained before, on this blog, about some common misspellings that get to me like fingernails on a chalkboard. Yesterday Megan tipped me off to 11 Gorgeously Ironic Misspellings In Protest Signs on 11Points.com, by Sam Greenspan. Misspelling is bad, yes, but it’s got to be worse, or at the very least more ironic, when people butcher the language while complaining about language.  The post includes pictures showing the following exact quotes taken from protest signs defending the English language: Get a brain, morans Respect Are Country, Speak English This is America and our only…

• Why I’ll Never Retire

  Tim Berry

  2 Nov 2009 | 5:55 am

  Ugh, baby boomers, retirement, selling the business … ouch. Strikes me like “lions, tigers, and bears,” in the Wizard of Oz. Scary. I’m 61. It was my choice to change my job more than two years ago, so that now instead of managing my company with 45 employees I’m writing, speaking, blogging, and teaching. And I thank God that I had that choice. The company’s better off with a new management team, and I’m better off with a new job. But I worry about the rest of us. Retirement scares the hell out of me. One of my closest friends retired two years ago. Now he’s bored out of his…

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  Small Biz Survival

• Join the Brag Basket

  Becky McCray

  6 Nov 2009 | 2:38 am

  Every week, I open a Brag Basket, so you can introduce yourself or share some good news. So speak up and add yourself or another deserving soul in the comments. We all cheer, and everyone feels great. It lets you meet each other a bit. Reading each others' stories brings us a bit closer to being a community.  This particular basket is open from Nov. 6-Nov. 8, 2009. (I put dates so you won't accidentally leave a comment on an old basket.) How does it work? You write a comment on this post. You tell something great about your week, or you give plaudits to someone who did good stuff this…

• 3 Speaking tips for wired audiences

  Becky McCray

  5 Nov 2009 | 8:09 pm

  More audiences today are wired, with laptops or smart phones. They are taking notes, Tweeting, and much more. This changes the dynamic of speaking, so here are three tips I picked up at BlogWorld Expo this year. 1. Using a visual can make people stop taking notes and listen to you. This one came from @armano during his presentation on creating visuals. He was right, too. 2. Put a copy of your presentation online ahead of time. If the projector or video fails, all those with laptops in the audience can pull it up and flip through it with you. This one was suggested by @digitalandy when the…

• 6 big Facebook tips for small business

  Becky McCray

  3 Nov 2009 | 7:24 pm

  Facebook can be a powerful tool for small business, and our friend Shama Kabani of Click to Client shared some outstanding tips in her presentation at BlogWorld Expo. Tip 1: Create a fan Page, not a personal Profile, for your business.  Fan pages are the best way for small businesses to interact with customer and potential customers on Facebook, Shama said. If you don't have a Facebook account yet, create one in your own name. Then go create your Facebook Page. Tip 2. Build your page with your purpose in mind.  Start with the little box that appears under your photo. Put something…

• Tips for setting business hours

  Becky McCray

  1 Nov 2009 | 11:20 am

  Every so often, we feature common small business mistakes, so you can learn from them. Lots of small business make a mistake in setting and keeping their business hours. Here's an example from a retail business, open only 11 hours per week. But hey, they do say you can call and they'll come open up. This may be more common in small towns, where we're more informal. It's still a mistake. How many potential customers are you turning away? Two years ago, I wrote about a couple of other local business, one with inconsistent hours that were always changing and one that wasn't always open when it…

• Is it worth paying for help with free tools

  Becky McCray

  31 Oct 2009 | 8:59 am

  Many times, it is worth paying for help with what seem like free tools like social media, websites, or even photography. Look at it this way. If you want to build a house, you probably already have a hammer and all the tools you need. You can find some lumber pretty cheap. There are even books full of house plans and instructions. Or you can hire a professional home builder. Or only subcontract out the parts you need. It depends on what kind of results you want, how much time you can invest, and your personal skill level. Photo by Becky McCray. New here? Take the Guided Tour. Like what you…

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  Dane Carlson: Business Opportunities

• Dumb Inventions

  Rich Whittle

  6 Nov 2009 | 12:12 pm

  YODEL METER, 1925 An early version of American Idol? VENETIAN BLIND SUNGLASSES, 1950 It was a bad idea then, it’s a bad idea now. Sorry, Kanye. TV GLASSES, 1963 MUST see TV. DOG RESTRAINER, 1940 Yes, it’s so much easier to use than a leash. Photo by LIFE Magazine. From Business Opportunities Weblog.

• The Power Of Women-Owned Bizs

  Rich Whittle

  6 Nov 2009 | 11:11 am

  Last month, the Center for Women’s Business Research released a study which found that 28 percent, or an estimated 8 million, of all U.S. businesses were women-owned, reports The New York Times. The study also showed that those 8 million cross-industry businesses created or maintained 16 percent of the country’s jobs. However, only 4.2 percent of the nation’s revenue is generated by women-owned businesses. The Center plans to approach the Obama administration, the Small Business Administration, and House and Senate small-business committees to request more resources and…

• Internet Use Won’t Cause Social Isolation

  Rich Whittle

  6 Nov 2009 | 10:10 am

  Although technology and the Internet have taken a beating in the past for potentially limiting people’s social interaction, a new study from the Pew Research Center has found that the opposite might be true, reports CNet News. According to a Pew Internet Personal Networks and Community survey, which polled 2,512 adults, the dawn of new technology and the Internet has not caused people to withdraw from society. In fact, the study found that “the extent of social isolation has hardly changed since 1985, contrary to concerns that the prevalence of severe isolation has tripled since…

• Lessons Learned From Poker

  Rich Whittle

  6 Nov 2009 | 9:09 am

  In business, as in poker, sometimes you have to know when to fold ‘em. So says serial entrepreneur and blogger Eric Ries on GigaOM. Ries takes the lessons he’s learned from watching the World Series of Poker and explains how entrepreneurs and poker players share many of the same qualities. Namely, “Both rely on acting strategically under conditions of extreme uncertainty. And, in both, small changes in your odds of winning can have a big impact on the final outcome.” Ries goes on to point out that just as in poker where amateur players sometimes beat the pros, many…

• Finding The Right Biz Partner

  Rich Whittle

  6 Nov 2009 | 8:08 am

  Tech entrepreneur Neil Patel shares some advice on his blog, QuickSprout, about the benefits of having a business partner, and how to find the right one. Patel, who admits he’s been through his share of partnerships, warns that the union can be as tumultuous as a marriage and recommends setting expectations for each partner on day one. To that end, he suggests “sealing the deal” by putting both names on the LLC — with clearly delineated percentages — to prevent issues with money or ownership. Photo by spekulator . From Business Opportunities Weblog.

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  Bizsugar

• Turning Your Customers into Fanatic Fans

  ShawnHessinger

  6 Nov 2009 | 7:23 am

  This blog post discusses how to turn satisfied customers into true fans using social media tools, customer service above and beyond, and consistency, among other things...10 Vote(s)

• Email Subject Lines That Avoid Spam Filter

  jsternal

  6 Nov 2009 | 7:23 am

  Here is a discussion along with excellent tips on how to develop email subject lines that help you stay out of the spam filter.9 Vote(s)

• Using Social Media to Manage Your Brand

  webdotcom

  6 Nov 2009 | 7:23 am

  Thanks to social media, the role of branding has changed. All businesses-even individuals-need to recognize the importance of managing their brand online. If you don't manage it, others will manage it for you, which is never a good thing.10 Vote(s)

• Social Media for Business - Who's Doing it Well & How

  VictoriaJones

  6 Nov 2009 | 7:21 am

  Marketers today are caught up in a jumble of buzzwords that mean very little. It's a confusing time, but to get the marketing right, you need to start thinking about relationships first. "It's not about selling something anymore; that might be the end result, but to get there, you need to work on the relationship."10 Vote(s)

• Making Claims in your Marketing (Kellogg's Example)

  jsternal

  6 Nov 2009 | 4:10 am

  Here's an update on the story of the cereal maker we blogged about the other day. You'll recall that this particular company, now identified as Kellogg's and its Cocoa Krispies cereal, was being questioned for a marketing claim it used in big letters across the front of its box saying the cereal "Now helps support your child's IMMUNITY."11 Vote(s)

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  Chris Brogan

• Interview with Mike Myatt

  chrisbrogan

  5 Nov 2009 | 8:46 pm

  Mike Myatt is Chief Strategy Officer of N2Growth, a business that deals with branding, coaching, leadership management and more. Mike was also kind enough to buy many copies of Trust Agents, which made me wonder: what kind of a guy buys a ton of books to help a guy out, without wanting me to go and speak at some event or something? Mike just wanted to see things go well with our launch, and for that, I’m grateful. I asked Mike some questions about his business and where he sees all this going. Here’s our interview: You help coach CEOs on leadership and related issues, and…

• How to Think Of Blog Posts

  chrisbrogan

  5 Nov 2009 | 4:26 am

  The secret to blogging every day is a blend of three things: discipline, practice, and ideas. That last part is usually what I find people asking me for help with, so let’s talk about that today. Ideas don’t just grow on trees. But, you do have to harvest ideas the way you’d pick apples. Why? Because they’re everywhere. Here are some of the ways I find ideas. How to Think of Blog Posts Answer questions. You get emails with people asking you for your thoughts on X. Write the post instead of just replying to the email. Take pictures. I see strange things out and about.

• Wiring Up Business- Two Channel Social

  chrisbrogan

  3 Nov 2009 | 10:14 pm

  Let’s imagine you’re a small or medium sized business and looking to use social software to improve communications on many fronts: support, service, marketing, etc. If you chose to use a service like Twitter, for instance, for some of this communicating, I can see the need to have a two-channel mindset: one public and customer-facing and the other private and business-facing. On the public channel, you’d talk with customers and prospects about the business, including everything from support help to promotional opportunities, to general good will. On the other channel,…

• Trust Agents- An Introduction

  chrisbrogan

  3 Nov 2009 | 7:39 am

  I can’t say thanks enough to John Spiropoulos for his great video project from my trip to Southern California to spend time with Brandtailers. These videos he made are amazing. Pay attention to the quality John put into them more than the content itself. I mean, I’m flattered and pleased, but also pay attention to how John did what he did. I think he’s top shelf. You? If you can’t see the video, click here.

• Thank You Amazon-Thank You Friends

  chrisbrogan

  3 Nov 2009 | 4:28 am

  Yesterday, Trust Agents was named a Top 10 Book by Amazon.com, thanks in great part to YOUR kindness by ordering it. In just over two months, the book has made the New York Times Bestseller’s list, the Wall Street Journal Bestseller’s list, the top 5 sellers on Audible.com, and now the Top 10 Business & Investing books of 2009, according to Amazon. I consider every one of those successes to be yours. You did all the hard work. Julien and I just typed. Thank you for what you’ve done to make the book successful, and for believing in us. For those of you who haven’t…

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  John Battelle

• Twitter Incorporates Retweeting (Beta Launch)

  http://fmpub.net/contact.php?to=jb

  6 Nov 2009 | 12:50 pm

  Saw this greeting me whilst on Twitter.com today (gotta love WiFi on a plane): Nice to see Twitter rolling out so many new things, like Lists, which seems to be taking off (though I find the lack of a discovery interface vexing, for now). Retweeting is integrated in an elegant way, tweets that have been retweeted have a little cycled arrow icon, which identifies tweets that folks you've followed have retweeted. Another signal (as are Lists) that Twitter will be able to use as core data to drive its unique value. Watch that space, it's where Twitter will win (or lose). Twitter also added the…

• A Step Toward Realizing the Data Bill of Rights Vision

  http://fmpub.net/contact.php?to=jb

  5 Nov 2009 | 4:19 am

  Danny was kind enough to ping me about this story, which breaks the news about Google's new "Dashboard," which is, in essence, a first start toward realizing the "privacy dashboard" I asked for so long ago (and again here), back when I was posting ideas like a madman (I'm going to be doing that again shortly, so watch out...). It's a big deal I think, even if most of us never use it. And it's very smart of Google to lead here. It really had no choice, when you think about it. And it's kind of cool to see stuff I wrote about here over three years ago happen in the real world.

• OK, What the Real Phone Map Should Be

  http://fmpub.net/contact.php?to=jb

  3 Nov 2009 | 3:05 pm

  The sphere is abuzz with today's news that AT&T is suing Verizon over those apparently quite effective ads which borrow heavily from Apple's tagline - "There's an App for that..." Verizon has created a map that compares AT&T 3G coverage to Verizon's, and then uses the tagline "there's a map for that." (Above is the commercial, here's the map.) Well, I've been ranting about a real carrier mapping application (executed as a marketing campaign, natch), for nearly three years, and while I've told just about everyone I can about it, so far it's still not done (I know, I know, we should…

• Twitter Lists

  http://fmpub.net/contact.php?to=jb

  2 Nov 2009 | 7:12 pm

  There's much to say about Twitter's slow to roll out but much discussed Lists feature. I'm a fan of it, in short, for many reasons. Lists is a pretty simple idea - it lets anyone make and share a list of folks on Twitter. But it's also a powerful new signal that will help Twitter solve two of its most vexing problems - first, that of discovery, and second, that of authority. Not to mention it gives everyone a chance to add value above the level of a single "follower", more on that later. In short, if done right, Lists will provide the Twitter ecosystem a third dimension that might just propel…

• What "Tweet" Needs to Become: To Share a Moment

  http://fmpub.net/contact.php?to=jb

  27 Oct 2009 | 11:14 am

  Last week was big for Twitter. After years of speculation about whether the company was going to have a business model, Twitter announced two deals at our Web2 conference - first with Microsoft's Bing, and second with Google. Details of the deals were not disclosed, but as Google's Marissa Mayers admitted onstage, there were indeed financial terms.   What those terms might be strike me as secondary to the fact the deals got done in the first place. Sure, they probably consist of some combination of data services fees and revenue sharing, but the fact remains that monetizing a real…

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  Jason Calacanis

• Another weekend spent in another airport… The wonderful horrible life of a startup CEO. #glamorous

  Jason Calacanis

  7 Nov 2009 | 7:31 am

  ————— Jason@Calacanis.com | Mobile: 310-456-4900 http://www.calacanis.com | http://www.mahalo.com Executive Assistant: admin@calacanis.com

• LeBron won’t leave MSG… He’s the mayor here! 100% he’s a knick next year. 100%. Sorry cleveland!

  Jason Calacanis

  6 Nov 2009 | 7:46 pm

  ————— Jason@Calacanis.com | Mobile: 310-456-4900 http://www.calacanis.com | http://www.mahalo.com Executive Assistant: admin@calacanis.com

• My brother dj josh and grand master flash spinning at Knicks Game

  Jason Calacanis

  6 Nov 2009 | 7:22 pm

  ————— Jason@Calacanis.com | Mobile: 310-456-4900 http://www.calacanis.com | http://www.mahalo.com Executive Assistant: admin@calacanis.com

• 19 point first quarter for Lebron

  Jason Calacanis

  6 Nov 2009 | 6:02 pm

  Sent from my iPhone, but I’d rather be using my blackberry frankly.

• Welcome to NY LeBron — want to stay?

  Jason Calacanis

  6 Nov 2009 | 4:08 pm

  ————— Jason@Calacanis.com | Mobile: 310-456-4900 http://www.calacanis.com | http://www.mahalo.com Executive Assistant: admin@calacanis.com

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  John Jantsch

• 3 Sources of Grammar Inspiration

  John Jantsch

  6 Nov 2009 | 6:20 am

  3 Sources of Grammar InspirationThis content from: Duct Tape Marketing About once a week I amuse the grammar troops by torturing some aspect of the language in my writing. Hey, I don’t do it on purpose and I love that I’m able to provide an otherwise cuddly group of individuals with a steady flow of chuckles. I’ve had this post in the back of my mind for some time, but I was prompted to write it today by a LinkedIn status update I saw yesterday. (Name of victim withheld) – “Excited to attend my first titter conference today.” In the always on, say…

• Trust Me: Four Steps to Authenticity and Charisma

  John Jantsch

  5 Nov 2009 | 3:16 am

  Trust Me: Four Steps to Authenticity and CharismaThis content from: Duct Tape Marketing Marketing podcast with Nick Morgan (Click to listen, right click and Save As to download – subscribe now via iTunes Trust – can’t get enough of that as a brand, business, or person these days. Everyone knows that, but what they may not know is that there are things each of is doing that may be unintentionally eroding trust – particularly when it comes to the topic of speaking and presenting. In this episode of the Duct Tape Marketing podcast Nick Morgan, author of Trust Me, talks…

• Social Media Training Course Beta Testers Needed

  John Jantsch

  3 Nov 2009 | 5:03 am

  Social Media Training Course Beta Testers NeededThis content from: Duct Tape Marketing This whole social media thing for small business can be confusing, I know, I speak to groups of small business owner routinely and hear things like – “I’m overwhelmed, I’m tired of the hype, what do I do first, how do I find the time.” Update: The good news is a lot of people really want to beta test this program – over 125 left comments for the 10 spots, but I guess that’s the bad news too. Here’s what I’ve decided to do – I will choose 20 beta…

• Biznik Blends High Tech with High Touch

  John Jantsch

  2 Nov 2009 | 1:13 pm

  Biznik Blends High Tech with High TouchThis content from: Duct Tape Marketing Fortunately, it’s starting to feel like the wave of social media hype has crested and small businesses can turn their attention to understanding social media “best practices” rather than obsessing over next week’s new tool. Today’s greatest small business opportunity awaits those who learn to skillfully blend the awareness creating, automating, and filtering aspects of social media platforms with the trust and customer building aspects of education based, face-to-face networking.

• Weekend Favs October Thirty-One

  John Jantsch

  31 Oct 2009 | 5:20 am

  Weekend Favs October Thirty-OneThis content from: Duct Tape Marketing I’ve added a weekend post routine that I hope you enjoy. Each weekend I write a post that features 3-4 things I read during the week that I found interesting. Generally speaking it doesn’t involve much analysis and may range widely in topic. (Flickr image included here is also fav image of the week) Enjoy! Good stuff I ran across this week: Twitter Gallery - Nice collection of free twitter backgrounds. This is an asset that should be branded, but at least dress it up a bit. KnowEm – Search over 340 popular social…

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  Darren Rowse

• Blogging is Rocket Science

  Darren Rowse

  7 Nov 2009 | 6:07 am

  Today’s post is by Kevin Sanders of Strong and Fit. Do you ever have those moments when seemingly random, unrelated thoughts kind of merge together in your mind? This happened to me a couple of weeks ago. I remembered a documentary I watched on the space shuttle years ago. Something was said about the percentage of fuel it burns within the first two minutes of liftoff. It stuck in my mind and I tried to find the information on Google. No luck. Then I remembered that one of my family members (Dale Hutchens, Ph.D.) works with NASA. He is a chemical engineer who was directly involved with…

• Six Ways To Make More Money As An Affiliate

  Darren Rowse

  6 Nov 2009 | 5:15 am

  By Johnny B. Truant I’m going to go out on a limb and say that affiliate marketing is the easiest way to make money online. You don’t have to create a product or develop a service, you don’t need huge amounts of focused traffic the way you do with AdSense, (I started using AdSense a year ago and just recently passed the $100 minimum payout), and you don’t need to do a ton of advertising or SEO to make it work. All you really need is an audience to whom you can refer products and services. Of course, the above statement is true in the same way it’s true that you…

• The Paint By Numbers Guide To Artful Blogging

  Darren Rowse

  6 Nov 2009 | 5:15 am

  A Guest Post by Greg Hayes from Live Fit Blog. Do you subscribe to the idea that blogging is an art form? I do. Britannica Online defines art as “The use of skill and imagination in the creation of aesthetic objects, environments, or experiences that can be shared with others.” If you’re a blogger, then by definition, you most certainly engage in the following activities during the creation of content: Creative Writing Web Page Design (Aesthetics) Idea Development (Novelty) Social Media (Shared Experiences) When we start our blog, we read the A-list bloggers, and they repeat the…

• 14 Types of Stories You Can Tell On Your Blog

  Darren Rowse

  4 Nov 2009 | 6:18 am

  Yesterday we explored WHY stories can be such a powerful communication tool on your blog. Today we’ll look at 14 types of stories that you might like to try on your blog. 14 Types of stories can you tell on your blog Personal Discovery Stories – tell how you discovered a lesson. These stories show your readers how similar you are to them and also might give some practical advice on how they might learn from your experience. Stories as Analogies and Illustrations – tell a story that on the surface has nothing to do with your topic but which illustrates a principle that is relevant.

• Why Stories are an Effective Communication Tool for Your Blog

  Darren Rowse

  3 Nov 2009 | 6:18 am

  As I write this it is the first Tuesday morning of a new month and I’m sitting in a local coffee shop going through my ‘start of the month routine‘. It involves a large lattè (everything else hinges on this) and some delving into my blogs metrics to see how they’ve been performing. While I do keep track of the traffic stats of my blogs each day I like to set aside an hour or two at the start of each month to go a little deeper and do some more analysis of trends on my blogs – I find that when I do this I notice things that I can build on to continue momentum on…

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  Brian Solis

• Rumors of the Death of Blogs are Greatly Exaggerated

  brian

  6 Nov 2009 | 4:02 am

  Source: feministingEach year at Blogworld Expo, Technorati CEO Richard Jalichandra presents The State of the Blogosphere as one of the event’s prestigious keynotes. For those who are unfamiliar with Technorati, it serves as a directory and search engine for the blogosphere as well as a benchmark for the ranking of blogs worldwide.While there has been much discussion about the relevance and even demise of blogs as the statusphere and micro updates gained traction in addition to earning prominence in the mainstream spotlight, the reality is that blogs are a vital ingredient to the media…

• RT @Twitter: New Retweet Feature Goes Live

  brian

  5 Nov 2009 | 7:29 pm

  Source: TwitterThis is breaking news at the moment, therefore this post will update as new information trickles in.Twitter is making good on its recent promise to introduce new features to bring users back to Twitter.com.Similar to the way that it rolled out Lists, Twitter is incrementally releasing its new Retweet feature initially previewed in August 2009.As described by @Biz, co-founder of Twitter:Retweet is a button that makes forwarding a particularly interesting tweet to all your followers very easy. In turn, we hope interesting, newsworthy, or even just plain funny information will…

• Social Media Influencers are not Traditional Influencers

  brian

  5 Nov 2009 | 4:19 am

  SourceGuest post by Damien Basille, follow him on Twitter | Read his blogAs more and more brands are moving all of their ad spend online, defining how influence affects their return on investment is necessary and must be done as soon as possible. While some are making inroads to define these calculations many are overlooking the fact that influence affects everything. Without factoring in the real issue of different types of influence you run into a number of problems, for instance focusing on one group of influencers over another or getting broad sweeping numbers instead of knowing exactly…

• The Future of the Embargo

  brian

  3 Nov 2009 | 4:25 am

  CreditIn media and blogger relations, PR typically wields two powerful tools to help boost the effectiveness of pitching and potential placement of news: the embargo and the exclusive.In the case of an exclusive, a story is usually packaged prior to official release for one particular writer, fully understanding their style, nuances, and audience. If the story is accepted, it is not pitched to any other media outlets until after the story runs. The benefit for PR is that it can bank on the publishing of a guaranteed, high profile story. The advantage for the reporter is that they maintain a…

• Twitter Releases New Widget for Lists

  brian

  2 Nov 2009 | 7:14 pm

  Twitter recently expanded its new Lists service to users network-wide and in doing so, injected a sense of excitement, confusion, and also utility. Lists represent a significant milestone for Twitter as it transcends asynchronous conversations and and broadcast messages into a form of intelligence gathering, education, entertainment, and news.Twitter Lists are also stirring controversy as many believe that it sets the foundation for a new level of establishing a metric for influence. Whereas prominence was measured by the number of followers as well as the friends-to-follower ratio, now the…