The microblogging service has updated its safeguards to include two passwords when logging in.
Selected by thesmallbiznest
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Most Topular Stories
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After Hacks, Twitter Updates Sign-In Security
Entrepreneur22 May 2013 | 1:45 pm -
Announcing … Fantastic lineup of Spring classes from Power Teaching students
Escape From Cubicle Nation20 May 2013 | 11:54 amIn March/April, I ran another small session of my Power Teaching class. Another extremely smart and enthusiastic group joined in intensive study of effective training design and development, and worked on real, live classes that they are launching this Spring and Summer. I love teaching this class for three reasons: It is exceptionally energizing to share my passion for teaching with completely open and eager participants They really worked their hearts out to apply great design to their classes, ensuring a superior learning experience for their students They were extremely generous with each… -
Coworks - A Social Online Talent Marketplace
Small Business Labs23 May 2013 | 1:00 amCoworks is a new online talent marketplace with a twist. Instead of offering talent buyers a large number of potential hires like an Elance or oDesk does, it connects buyer and sellers of talent based on personal connections and recommendations. According to the press release announcing the company, Coworks: "... provides freelancers and buyers with a unique online platform that takes the “word of mouth” practice, which has worked for so many years in the freelancing industry offline, and combines it with the power of online social media capabilities." The site… -
WordPress vs. Joomla: Which Is The Best System For Your Business
Small Business Technology20 May 2013 | 1:00 pmPlanning on creating a site for your business? Considering the up-front cost of hiring developers to make a site for you, content management system (CMS) platforms have risen to the rescue to fill the gap. Two of the most well-known free CMS products available are WordPress and Joomla. Both of them provide very powerful features that small businesses can use, but only one of them is appropriate for you. Today, let’s put these two content management systems head-to-head and determine which one remains the victor for your particular situation! It’s WordPress vs. Joomla! WordPress… -
How to Nail the Opening of Your Blog Post
Copyblogger22 May 2013 | 5:00 amThe opening four notes to Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony are the most popular notes in Western music. Dun dun dun dum … They are stormy. Heroic. Disorienting. Short enough to be remembered. Portentous enough to be memorable. Today you’ll find those notes everywhere. In movies, commercials, and songs when the dramatic and foreboding are needed … And we hardly bat an eye. We recognize them, we know them, and we love those first four notes. Not so for Beethoven’s opening night at Vienna’s Theater an der Wien in 1808. One contemporary composer of Beethoven —…
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Entrepreneur
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After Hacks, Twitter Updates Sign-In Security
22 May 2013 | 1:45 pmThe microblogging service has updated its safeguards to include two passwords when logging in. -
Lessons in Persuasion From Apple CEO Tim Cook
22 May 2013 | 1:00 pmCook's appearance before the U.S. Senate on Tuesday was a master class in the art of negotiation. -
Entrepreneurship in the U.S. Reaches Highest Level in More Than a Decade (Infographic)
22 May 2013 | 11:25 amMore than one in 10 Americans were developing their own business in 2012, according to the U.S. Global Entrepreneurship Monitor released today. Here's a look at the demographics of the community. -
The Psychology of Color and Branding (Infographic)
22 May 2013 | 9:30 amWhy companies like McDonald's and Pizza Hut prefer red whereas Lowe's opts for blue. -
YouTube Basics: How to Edit a Video
22 May 2013 | 9:00 amStart producing more professional YouTube videos with these four easy steps.
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Escape From Cubicle Nation
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Announcing … Fantastic lineup of Spring classes from Power Teaching students
20 May 2013 | 11:54 amIn March/April, I ran another small session of my Power Teaching class. Another extremely smart and enthusiastic group joined in intensive study of effective training design and development, and worked on real, live classes that they are launching this Spring and Summer. I love teaching this class for three reasons: It is exceptionally energizing to share my passion for teaching with completely open and eager participants They really worked their hearts out to apply great design to their classes, ensuring a superior learning experience for their students They were extremely generous with each… -
Why writing your book doesn’t have to be scary
25 Apr 2013 | 10:42 amI am delighted to feature a guest post today from my friend and fellow coach, bestselling author Debbie Rieber. Debbie is in the business of helping people get the books in their heads written, sold, and out into the world. As someone who is writing a book now, I know that we authors need all the help we can get! In this post, she helps to disprove some of the myths that keep us stuck and afraid to write. Enjoy! Whether you’re an entrepreneur looking to strengthen your platform or someone with a body of research, a story, or a unique point of view you feel compelled to share, writing a book… -
It just got easier to book yourself solid
9 Apr 2013 | 9:58 amWhen I started my coaching practice, I felt extremely awkward when I talked with prospective clients. Asking for a sale felt like torture. And I was so excited about anyone at all hiring me for my services that I didn’t really consider whether they were a good fit or not. Thankfully, seven years ago I found Book Yourself Solid by Michael Port, which gave me an extremely clear framework and tools for selling my services. One of the reasons why I liked the book so much is that Michael operates out of a personal value set of service and integrity. When I got to know him personally a… -
10 Ways to Develop a Mastery Mindset
5 Apr 2013 | 4:17 pmIn today’s world of hacks, shortcuts and instant money-making blueprints, I think we have lost appreciation for slow-brewing mastery in our work. Through the years, I have worked with many martial artists, cultural leaders and business mentors who have taught me that trying to finish first in a short race is not only stressful, it works against developing deep expertise. Here are ten ways to develop a mastery mindset: Learn patience My mother in law has taught me that Diné people (Navajos) have ceremonies for every part of life. There are baby’s first laugh ceremonies and puberty… -
Confession of an entrepreneurial optimist
15 Mar 2013 | 3:46 pmI am cruising into my 17th year in business. Seventeen years of creating things, connecting with people, figuring out what I want to do, what people need and inviting them to pay me to help them get things done. It has been fun. Really, really fun. I remember when I first started blogging and everything was just so dang exciting. I didn’t know what I was doing, and had an ugly homegrown Typepad blog. Every day I would meet a new, cool person who would teach me something new. Rich Sloan from Startup Nation called me out of the blue one day to tell me he liked my writing and I think I…
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Small Business Labs
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Coworks - A Social Online Talent Marketplace
23 May 2013 | 1:00 amCoworks is a new online talent marketplace with a twist. Instead of offering talent buyers a large number of potential hires like an Elance or oDesk does, it connects buyer and sellers of talent based on personal connections and recommendations. According to the press release announcing the company, Coworks: "... provides freelancers and buyers with a unique online platform that takes the “word of mouth” practice, which has worked for so many years in the freelancing industry offline, and combines it with the power of online social media capabilities." The site… -
What is Quantum Computing?
22 May 2013 | 1:00 amThe announcements that Google and Lockheed Martin have purchased quantum computers has led to a lot of recent coverage on the topic. Quantum computers are very, very fast. Instead of using the traditional approach of a string of 1's and 0's that are either turned on or off, quantum computers use quantum bits, or qubits. Qubits take advantage of the weird behavior of quantum mechanics which means they can essentially be both on and off at the same time. This allows them to multitask and at least in some cases potentially run thousands of times faster than traditional… -
Using Twitter's Promoted Tweets
21 May 2013 | 1:00 amPromoted Tweets are basically paid ads for Tweets. They are described by Twitter as "ordinary Tweets purchased by advertisers who want to reach a wider group of users or to spark engagement from their existing followers." Promoted Tweets have been around for a couple of years, but Twitter limited the number of companies allowed to use them. They recently changed this policy and now anyone can pay to their Tweets promoted. Over the last month Small Business Labs has been experimenting with promoted tweets. Here are our reactions: 1. Promoted… -
R.I.P Lotus 1-2-3
20 May 2013 | 1:00 amIBM recently announced that it's no longer selling Lotus 1-2-3. Most readers of this blog likely have never heard of Lotus 1-2-3. But more experienced readers (meaning old) will remember 1-2-3 as their first PC spreadsheet and the first "killer app" for the PC. Lotus Development Corporation released 1-2-3 in 1983 and it quickly became one of the most popular PC software products of its era. Along with other now forgotten PC software companies like Word Perfect (word processing), Ashton-Tate (database) and Software Publishing (graphics), Lotus helped drive… -
Self-Employment Shifting to the Creative Class
16 May 2013 | 1:00 amWell known author and academic Richard Florida has written extensively about the rise of the creative class. According to his work, the creative class - a grouping of knowledge-based professions - has rapidly increased its share of total employment over the last 2 decades and now comprises about one third of all U.S. jobs. While the majority of creative class members have traditional jobs, a growing share of the self-employed are also members of the creative class. The chart below shows the percent of total self-employment for 2 of the 3 broad employment sectors. I left off the services…
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Small Business Technology
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WordPress vs. Joomla: Which Is The Best System For Your Business
20 May 2013 | 1:00 pmPlanning on creating a site for your business? Considering the up-front cost of hiring developers to make a site for you, content management system (CMS) platforms have risen to the rescue to fill the gap. Two of the most well-known free CMS products available are WordPress and Joomla. Both of them provide very powerful features that small businesses can use, but only one of them is appropriate for you. Today, let’s put these two content management systems head-to-head and determine which one remains the victor for your particular situation! It’s WordPress vs. Joomla! WordPress… -
Best Practices for Social Media Promotions: Get More Followers, Engagement, and Sales
20 May 2013 | 10:00 amSocial media promotions are one surefire way to get your followers up on Twitter or boost those likes on Facebook. You can boost engagement and get your brand out there. If you’re offering something good (Apple products like iPads are a very popular social media giveaway), you can see huge numbers of people getting involved. But it has to be done right to get you the engagement you want. Anyone who wants an iPad will “like” or retweet something for the chance to win, but many won’t bother to find out anything about your business, if it’s that easy to get involved… -
10 Awesome Email Management Tools
20 May 2013 | 7:00 amWhat’s your favorite email management tool and why? The following answers are provided by the Young Entrepreneur Council (YEC), an invite-only organization comprised of the world’s most promising young entrepreneurs. In partnership with Citi, the YEC recently launched #StartupLab, a free virtual mentorship program that helps millions of entrepreneurs start and grow businesses via live video chats, an expert content library and email lessons. 1. Constant Contact I use Constant Contact to manage my email lists and communications. The tool makes sending smart, custom-designed emails… -
12 Mobile Security Tips All Small Businesses Must Be Aware Of
17 May 2013 | 1:00 pmWhile you’re probably worried about the future and are constantly trying to make your business a more customer-friendly environment, there are a couple of things you need to know about mobile devices. Smartphones and tablets have been penetrating the workplace for a while already. They’ve made conducting business a very simple process while, at the same time, ensuring that employees can attend to work practically anywhere in the world. It’s been quite a blast to have these things around. However, there’s a flip-side to mobile penetration. Your business’ security… -
NYC Event: Get Prospective Customers To Say ‘WOW’ and Close More Sales!
17 May 2013 | 10:00 amWhat you offer is amazing, but too often prospective customers just don’t“get it”! They don’t buy or they aren’t willing to pay what you know your product or service is worth. If you suffer from this problem, then you won’t want to miss our upcoming NYC Event, ‘Get Prospective Customers To Say ‘WOW’ and Close More Sales!‘ In this seminar, we’ll show you how to overcome this problem so your customers ‘get it’ and you begin to close more sales! Get More Customers To Say ‘WOW’ and Close More Sales! May 30, 2013…
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Copyblogger
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How to Nail the Opening of Your Blog Post
22 May 2013 | 5:00 amThe opening four notes to Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony are the most popular notes in Western music. Dun dun dun dum … They are stormy. Heroic. Disorienting. Short enough to be remembered. Portentous enough to be memorable. Today you’ll find those notes everywhere. In movies, commercials, and songs when the dramatic and foreboding are needed … And we hardly bat an eye. We recognize them, we know them, and we love those first four notes. Not so for Beethoven’s opening night at Vienna’s Theater an der Wien in 1808. One contemporary composer of Beethoven —… -
5 Things Every Copywriter Needs to Know About Their Prospects
21 May 2013 | 4:00 amWhat do you really know about your prospect? Their age range perhaps? Where they live? What they do for a living? Useful definitely, but not enough to create copy that rouses emotion and compels action. For that we need to take a journey much deeper into the dark recesses of our customers’ minds … Want to join me? Today’s article is inspired by someone who understood that in writing, how well you knew your ‘characters’ made the difference between captivating an audience, or boring them. In 1946 The Art of Dramatic Writing, (now regarded as one of the best works… -
14 Free Ebooks and an Updated 20-Part Internet Marketing Course
20 May 2013 | 5:00 amCan’t see the video? Click here. Free Registration About the Author: Brian Clark is founder of Copyblogger and CEO of Copyblogger Media. Get more from Brian on Google+. Related StoriesWhy We Still Need to Write, Even When We’re Scared5 Ways to Bond with Your Blog’s Audience11 Compound Word Errors that Might Make You Look like a Numbskull -
5 Writing and Productivity Links You Can Use
18 May 2013 | 5:00 amThis week on The Lede … How A Copywriter Evaluates A Great Website The Unexpected Antidote to Procrastination The Daily Rituals of the World’s Most Creative People 4 Things That Lead to Success (or Failure) with Email Signup Forms How to Do More By Planning Less: The Power of the Anti-Plan Want to grab even more useful links (beyond those that make The Lede)? Follow @copyblogger on Twitter. // The Unexpected Antidote to Procrastination Procrastination: that merciless thief of our time, creative output, and potential reward. Mr. Bergman delivers a unique — but convincing… -
How to Become a Content Marketing Expert
17 May 2013 | 9:00 amYou hear everyone talking about online content marketing, because with today’s Internet-empowered prospect, content marketing is what works. And yet, you may be struggling with creating content that works for your business or your clients. Or maybe you’re just trying to take your game to the next level. There’s a lot to learn, and even then you’re left asking potentially expensive and time-consuming questions: How do I apply this particular strategy for my business? Is this a solid idea, and how should I execute it? Has anyone taken this approach before, and what were the…
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Seth's Blog
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Thoughts on education and the burgeoning trophy shortage
23 May 2013 | 2:00 amIt's graduation season, so a few relevant links about school, students and our future: Here's the audio of an interview I did with PlayBuffet My TEDx talk about education And a reminder about Stop Stealing Dreams, a free manifesto that asks, "what is school for?" I hope we can ask this question more and more often... Feel free to share with your favorite graduate. Or her parents. Bonus: 20 video minutes at Creative Mornings. -
Let's start with "sorry"
22 May 2013 | 2:43 amBy the time the phone rings, there's already trouble. When that manager is called or this department is reached, it's because someone is disappointed, angry or stuck. Illness, broken promises or a real urgency have led to this new conversation even taking place. So don't start with, "[Name of company] mumble mumble" as if there's a blank slate just waiting to be written on. There's already a lot of writing on that slate. Don't demand to know the record number or begin with doubt and an edge of dismissal. Be on our team. "It sounds like we've got a situation on our hands..." is a fine way to… -
Levels of marketing magic, the placebo effects of desire
21 May 2013 | 2:45 amANTICIPATION: Before the product is released, the true fans are buzzing and speculating and waiting in line. The anticipation is self-reinforcing, a placebo effect of desire. UTILITY: The album is good, the software is useful, the book changes things. It works better than we hoped. Exceeding expectations pays significant dividends. REMARK: It's purple. Remarkable. Worth talking about. The word spreads. Ten people tell ten people and suddenly, it's abuzz. Not because of PR or hype, but because the remarkability is built right into the product or service itself. And more people enjoy things… -
You should buy the book
20 May 2013 | 8:33 amMitch Joel is a generous and perceptive blogger. Well worth the daily read. He has a new book. You should buy it. David Meerman Scott writes an essential blog, daily. His book is a classic. You should buy it. Tom Asacker writes a very thoughtful blog about marketing. Worth the read. He has a new book. You should buy it, too. Every day, Mark Frauenfelder and Corey Doctorow blog tons of goodness at Boingboing. They each have books. You should buy them and share them. Bernadette Jiwa's blog keeps getting better and better and you are probably already reading it. She has a new book on the way. -
No Signal
20 May 2013 | 2:00 amAt a party the other day, I saw a dead TV monitor. On the screen it said something like, "No signal... check power, cable and source selection..." It doesn't matter at all how hard the DVD player was trying to put on a show. It is irrelevant how good the show on cable was. If it's not getting through, no one sees it. All of us own our own media companies now. We each have the ability to speak up, to tell our stories, and if we're good and if we're lucky, to be heard. Too often, though, there's no signal. You may be pumping noise through your social media outlets, but noise isn't signal. It's…
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Small Business Marketing Blog from Duct Tape Marketing
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My Content Creation Toolbox
22 May 2013 | 9:33 amThis month’s theme here at Duct Tape Marketing is writing – you might enjoy these two posts if you have read them yet – 7 Things I Did Not Know About Writing Before I Started and How I Write and How I Decide What To Write photo credit: erin m via photopin cc Essentially, from a marketer’s point of view, writing is about producing content for the purpose of turning interest to purchase. In that pursuit there are many forms of content that come into play. Content that must create awareness, trust, education, engagement and conversion and, in many cases, take the form of… -
Reboot Your Business and Your Life
22 May 2013 | 8:37 amMarketing podcast with Mitch Joel I’ve been sensing a change these days. Actually, like most change, it happens in a way that is imperceptible, until you step back and look at something like a six month window. Then you can see it. photo credit: andjohan via photopin cc The world of marketing has changed – social, local, mobile – all powered by content, has happened, it’s not a fad – and yet businesses are still acting as though they can treat it as such. But here’s the really scary thing – it’s changing again. For this week’s episode of… -
How I Write and How I Decide What To Write
21 May 2013 | 4:39 amPeople seem fascinated with routines – how other people get things done and the like. While you do need to develop your own way of getting it all done, it can be inspiring and reassuring to hear how others are doing it. (Yesterday I wrote – 7 Things I Did Not Know About Writing Before I Started) How I decide what to write about photo credit: Sven Van Echelpoel via photopin cc I have a pretty solid editorial calendar that runs out about a year in terms of monthly focus themes so my blog posts, podcasts and guest content is lined up to match my annual plan. For example, this month’s… -
7 Things I Did Not Know About Writing Before I Started
20 May 2013 | 4:29 amI remember thinking I wanted to be a writer as far back as high school. Only thing is I didn’t really know how to become one. photo credit: geoftheref via photopin cc Then one day I decided that writing articles would be a good way to build my business, so I just started writing and a funny thing happened. The practiced of writing daily turned me into a writer. But, the habit of writing also shaped far more than my ability to create meaningful sentences and that’s the reason I believe that everyone in business must write. Writing to express my thoughts transformed everything about how… -
Weekend Favs May Eighteen
18 May 2013 | 5:13 amMy weekend blog post routine includes posting links to a handful of tools or great content I ran across during the week. I don’t go into depth about the finds, but encourage you check them out if they sound interesting. The photo in the post is a favorite for the week from Flickr or one that I took out there on the road. I spent a little time in Philadelphia this week. Good stuff I found this week: Linkstant – script that alerts you when someone links to any page on your website. Ubersuggest – keyword suggestion tool that uses many sources and groups suggestions in some very…
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Andy Sernovitz | Damn, I Wish I'd Thought of That!
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You shouldn’t be surprised about the FTC rules
22 May 2013 | 7:00 amGreg Gerik wrote an insightful post about one of my presentations on the importance of the FTC’s disclosure requirements. Read it here. He makes a great point: If you do not know the rules, you should not play the game. The time to learn how to … properly manage a sponsored campaign is not when you are in the middle of it. Any agency, manager, or strategist that is worth their salt should have awareness of these basic, foundational parts of the digital world. In 1938, FDR signed the Truth in Advertising rules that gave the FTC the authority to protect against “Unfair and… -
50 small things to help improve your customer service
21 May 2013 | 7:00 amHere’s a guest post Greg Meyer, a member of the Customer WOW team at Desk.com, wrote for our WordofMouth.org project. Check it out for more great word of mouth marketing tips like this every day. “The Thank You Effect” is an example of a small action that prompts meaningful next steps to measurably improve service in any company. In my experience, there are a number of these small actions that, when evangelized through a support team or through the larger company, can really make a difference on the customer experience. So I made a list of 50 small things that you can do to… -
Copy Protection is the Opposite of Copy Promotion (which we call “marketing”)
20 May 2013 | 7:00 amI’ve often thought that over-done efforts at copy protection kill the limited piracy that helps start the word of mouth about new content. Or they just make it too hard to use, and frustrated consumers walk away. David Pogue writes about Tor Books’ test where they dropped copy protection and saw no measurable increase in piracy. Read it here. David’s analysis is right on: Copy protection is never going to stop determined pirates Folks with no money aren’t ever going to pay you anyway, so it doesn’t matter if they steal the work If it’s easy enough to buy… -
It’s the empty space that’s useful
19 May 2013 | 7:00 amLao Tzu said: Thirty spokes share the wheel’s hub; It is the center hole that makes it useful. Shape clay into a vessel; It is the space within that makes it useful. Cut doors and windows for a room; It is the holes which make it useful. Therefore benefit comes from what is there; Usefulness from what is not there. We manage communities for executives and this is very relevant advice: It not the content we produce that makes our communities useful, it’s the empty space that we give them to talk to each other that’s so valuable. Our job isn’t to fill the empty space,… -
Spam vs. Viral
18 May 2013 | 7:00 amSeth Godin is a man who defined honest and effective email for all of us. Permission Marketing and Unleashing the Ideavirus are required reading for our team. Here’s a healthy reminder of the biggest ideas in email from two of Seth’s recent blog posts: Is this spam? If you have to ask, it probably is. The essential truth is that spam is always in the eye of the recipient. If you think it’s spam, it’s spam (if you’re the recipient. If you’re the sender, your opinion is worthless.) I don’t care what the privacy policy fine print says, if someone thinks…
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Bootstrapping a Startup - Business Exchange
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Something Ventured
20 May 2013 | 11:15 pmThis movie, Something Ventured, offers a unique insight into the rise of venture capital, with some notable examples. So watch and learn about "the single greatest engine of innovation and economic growth in the 20th century" -
7 Killer Tools to Boost Startup Sales in 2012
5 Dec 2011 | 8:44 amMarketing Matters for Local Business -
The New Rules for Startups
22 Nov 2011 | 9:57 amRaising capital is an intense process, which can be made easier by taking into consideration the following ten rules -
How to Grow a Business (With Little Cash)
14 Apr 2011 | 3:59 amIn today’s world, stretching your dollar is an important concept, especially for entrepreneurs. While securing funding to expand your fledgling business is important, it’s also key to know the various ways you can grow your business with little capital investment. -
Ten Tips on How to Get the Entrepreneur X-Factor
31 Oct 2011 | 9:15 amTo be successful as an entrepreneur, you don’t have to be a fabulous person, but it helps. Some people, and some entrepreneurs, have that something extra, like Simon Cowell is searching for on the X-Factor, that you can’t quite put
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Small Biz Survival
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Hiring First Employee is Big Step
22 May 2013 | 4:41 amYour first employees become a public face for your business. Making the right choices can be critical. Photo by Becky McCray. Hiring the first employee is a huge step for a small business. If your small business has reached the point where you need help because the assistance of family and friends no longer covers the gaps, you may have reached the point where you need bring paid staff on board. (A previous Small Biz Survival article focused on helping you decide when the time to hire someone had arrived – http://bit.ly/10eSmjl ). Once you have determined you want to hire employees, the… -
Two successful agritourism ideas
21 May 2013 | 12:19 amFeeding the alpaca at Bradt’s Menagerie. What started as a project for the kids that got out of hand is now an agritourism business. Photo by Becky McCray. Last week, I had the chance to tour two agri-tourism operations near my hometown of Alva, Oklahoma. Here are their stories. Bradt’s Menagerie Jerad and JoDe Bradt wanted to get their kids out of video games and more into the real world. Jerad suggested they try raising chickens. JoDe had raised chicks when she was little, too, and remembered them not-too-fondly. But they gave it a try with a box of mail-order chicks. Soon the… -
Sell more by giving samples of your services
20 May 2013 | 2:24 amRemember the yoga instructor who is going to do a video for her business? She told me that once people come to one class, they usually come back. So how can she get more people to make it to the first class? By cutting down the hurdles that stand between them and the first class. Sampling is the answer, even when what you sell is a service. Here are some ideas we came up with: Once people try a yoga class, they tend to stick with it. So how can she get more people to that first class? With fun, easy samples. Photo (cc) by Tom Mooring. At the county fair, have a booth with a lovely textured… -
We do Brag Basket every week
16 May 2013 | 11:57 pmThe Brag Basket is our tradition of sharing. The basket is always free and open all weekend, this one May 17-19, 2013. What good news will you add to the brag basket? Don’t hold back because of that word, “brag.” When you hold back, you hide your good news and accomplishments that might inspire others. Even though I call this the Brag Basket, it’s not really about bragging. It’s about sharing. What can you do in the Brag Basket? introduce yourself share some great news from this week congratulate a friend laugh about something wonderful that you tried that failed applaud for each… -
What do we do about a negative review?
16 May 2013 | 2:27 amEven in small towns, hotels and motels have to cope with online reviews. Sites like Yelp, TripAdvisor, and Google Local let every traveler become an instant expert. And small town hotel owners are left wondering how to respond. (Don’t see the video? Click through to What do we do about a negative review.) I booked Gunn House Historic Inn, Sonora, California, based on their online reviews. Photo by Becky McCray. You already know how to respond when someone walks up to you at your front desk with a complaint or a compliment. It’s a skill as delicate as art, and you’ve probably…
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Up and Running
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Must-have market intelligence for your product launch
22 May 2013 | 8:01 amWe’ve all heard the horror stories about how hard it can be to successfully launch a new product to the market. In a consumer product category such as household cleaning products, the industry success rate is a dismal 15 percent to 20 percent according to a Bloomberg Businessweek interview with former Proctor & Gamble CEO, Alan “A.G.” Lafley. According to a study by global consulting firm Accenture, Times are hard when it comes to new-product development. Half the companies in our survey experience budget overruns in new-product development. Forty-two percent of the companies… -
How to make sure your bar doesn’t end up on “Bar Rescue”
21 May 2013 | 10:51 amIf you’re in the bar business, you’ve probably seen an episode of “Bar Rescue.” Nothing better than Spike TV at 2 a.m. and seeing John Taffer confront a guilty bar staff. It makes for good TV, but let’s be honest: if you have to yell at your bar staff every week to get them to perform, you probably need a new staff. So how do you create long-term accountability behind the bar? How do get your bartenders to do an even pour each time? How do you make sure that your signature drinks are made exactly the same way so that you create that consistent customer… -
Speaking for Leads
20 May 2013 | 8:04 amI love to write – creatively as well as for business. So last year I decided to take a course at a nearby college to learn how to hone this skill. I learned a very valuable lesson that really should be the golden rule for your marketing. It’s always better to SHOW your audience than TELL them. Speaking is a great way to do this, especially for those of you in service-based businesses. Here are just a few of the key advantages of integrating this into your marketing: You have the opportunity to educate your target market in your area of expertise. By demonstrating your expertise, you… -
Friday roundup: Amy’s Baking Company, rising small business optimism, creative business people
17 May 2013 | 5:04 amDon’t get so wrapped up in work that you forget to stay up with the current events of the business world! Amid all of the chaos, grab a cup of Joe and take a short reading break. 1. If you haven’t heard about the Amy’s Baking Company fiasco, please look into it. It’s probably the most hilarious and frightening online meltdown in business history. After appearing on an episode of “Kitchen Nightmares,” where they were so awful Gordon Ramsay fired them, The couple received a lot of flak on their Facebook page. Instead of just accepting it and moving on, they… -
How do I generate buzz for a website launch?
16 May 2013 | 8:56 amTaking the time to design and build a website that reflects your company’s values is vital if you’re looking to bring to market a new product or service; but if people don’t know about your site then that investment is effectively wasted. Here are the steps you need to take to ensure you clock up hits from day one. Pre-launch planning This covers pretty much everything from selecting the right domain name, to design and content; it’s one of the most vital parts of the process. With so many domains already registered, you’re likely to have to compromise when it…
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BizSugar / Published News
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Business Lessons from ABC’s Shark Tank
22 May 2013 | 10:16 pmWho would have thought reality TV could be dispensing business tips. "Shark Tank" is a microcosm of the American dream, so marketers and entrepreneurs should tune in. 18 Vote(s) -
3 questions you MUST answer before hiring a copywriter
22 May 2013 | 9:56 pmDeciding to hire a copywriter is a big decision. You want to get your money's worth. To do that, you need to be ready for your copywriter! Here are three questions you must be able to answer before you get a wordsmith onboard.17 Vote(s) -
B2Bs, Who Is Your Biggest Competition Online?
22 May 2013 | 9:51 pmLet's start with a very basic marketing question that I'm sure most B2B marketers can answer-what other companies are your biggest competition offline? Who are you neck and neck with when it comes to reaching your target audience? 17 Vote(s) -
How to avoid losing a laptop on a plane
22 May 2013 | 9:28 pmLosing a laptop is a common hazard of flying. Airport Insecurity, a study sponsored by Dell, found that 70 per cent of business travellers feel rushed when trying to get on their flights.17 Vote(s) -
5 Fundamental Principles of Good Business Planning
22 May 2013 | 9:02 pmBy Time Berry. I've just finished a two-month period in which I've read more than 50 business plans as part of my role as judge of several major national business plan competitions and as managing investor of my local angel investment group. And I like reading business plans, so it wasn't a sacrifi17 Vote(s)
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Big Marketing for Small Business
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Affina Hotels Celebrates Small Business Week with Amex Gift Offer
22 May 2013 | 3:50 pmNational Small Business Week is coming up June 17-21, and Affinia Hotels is showing support for small businesses with a $100 American Express gift card for guests who sign up for the Business Perks program during that week. The gift card will be given out to each new member when they check in for their first two-night stay at one of the boutique hotel collection’s six hotels (five in New York City and one in Washington, D.C). The Business Perks Program makes it easier for small companies to take their business on the road with a commitment of only 25 nights per year, and features: 10% off… -
How to Share Your Competitive Advantage Through Social Media
17 May 2013 | 12:59 pmBeing in charge of a small business means constantly competing against the big guys. Providing something unique and valuable to consumers is the reason most of us started a business in the first place, and positively differentiating yourself from larger, more established competitors can really help you gain a competitive advantage. As a smart business owner, you need to keep your competitive advantage in mind constantly; it should be ingrained in your strategy, and evident on all fronts. This holds especially true when it comes to marketing online, since that’s where much of our focus… -
How a Small Business Can Find Love on Yelp
22 Apr 2013 | 11:26 amYelp’s influence is undeniable. By the end of 2012, Yelpers had written more than 36 million business reviews, making the social network platform the the leading local guide for online word-of-mouth. Michael Zammuto, president of ReputationChanger.com, says the power and influence of online review sites are directly linked to a business’ revenues. “Studies have revealed that an enterprise’s score on Yelp or on TripAdvisor is directly related to its profits,” he affirms. “For example, a Harvard study found that a single star on Yelp.com translates to somewhere between 5 and 10… -
How to Perform Easy A/B Tests of Your Landing Pages
20 Apr 2013 | 6:00 pmAnyone actively spending their advertising budget on digital marketing can tell you how important it is to continuously optimize your landing pages to deliver more qualified leads and sales. Testing creative ad copy in your Google search engine advertising (PPC) helps to improve your visitor clickthru rate, but if your page doesn’t convert that visitor into a lead once they reach there, you’ve just spent valuable ad dollars for nothing. Google search engine advertising is a direct response form of advertising–you’re reaching a potential customer at the moment they are very… -
Your Brand Power Starts With One
12 Apr 2013 | 11:36 amAsk yourself this one question: “What does your brand stand for?” If you’re unsure, don’t expect your audience to spend the time figuring it out for you. Your brand must stand for something or it stands for nothing—or risks just being mediocre and who wants to stand for that? BMW is known for high performance, Mercedes is known for luxury, and Volvo is known for safety. Not to say that any of these car brands don’t offer comparable performance, luxury or safety but each can only be known for one thing to make their brand truly meaningful to consumers.
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OnStartups
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The Why and How Of Updating Your Angel Investors
20 May 2013 | 7:02 amThere’s a massive amount available on the interwebs on how to improve the odds for success in new ventures. But almost nothing concrete is available on the care and feeding of your investors. You can do all of the Lean Startup experimentation you want, but we’re here to tell you that one of the the easiest and most underrated skills that a startup CEO needs is knowing how to keep your investors updated, excited and engaged. The reason is: The CEO is the investor's user interface into the business. It's how investors see what's going on, and in some minimal ways, interact… -
Startup PR Tip: To Get Press, Don't Pitch Your Product
16 May 2013 | 6:47 amEntrepreneurs that are looking to get attention from bloggers and journalists will often pitch their businesses themselves or though a PR agency. It's sad that most of those pitches fall flat and are likely to be completely ignored. A waste of time and money for everyone. For example, here’s a pitch from a PR professional. I’ve changed it slightly to avoid embarrassing anyone: “I’m working with a wonderful new business… The owners grew up together and decided to go into business… it’s a story I’m sure your readers will care a lot about!” Uh, no. It's unlikely that… -
The Pitch Deck We Used To Raise $500,000 For Our Startup
8 May 2013 | 11:04 amOne of the big no-no’s we’ve learnt about early on in Silicon Valley is to publicly share the pitchdeck you’ve used to raise money. At least, not before you’ve been acquired or failed or in any other way been removed from stage. That’s a real shame, we thought. Sharing the actual slidedeck we used (and one, that’s not 10 years old) is by far one of the most useful things for others to learn from. In fact, both Joel and I have privately shared the deck with fledging founders to help them with their fundraising. On top of that, our case study is hopefully uniquely insightful… -
5 Startup Hiring Mistakes That Can Crush Your Culture
29 Apr 2013 | 11:44 amRemember your first business loan? Or, if you're like many entrepreneurs, you may have initially bootstrapped your startup by buying some stuff on your credit card. You were excited and apprehensive: Excited because now you had the cash to invest in your business, apprehensive because you had just taken on a debt you would have to repay. But that was okay, because you were confident you could create more value than the interest you would pay. Even though you eventually have to pay off a financial debt, gaining access to the right resources now often marks the difference… -
12 Terrible (But Hilarious) Places To Work [slides]
22 Apr 2013 | 10:42 amAfter the week we've had in Boston this week, I found it hard to focus on any overly heavy work this weekend. So, instead, I created the slide deck below. This is unlike the prior deck I worked on (Culture Code), which had 150+ slides, and proved to be useful. This one is 14 slides, takes a minute to go through and is almost completely without use. But ye, it's fun. Hope you enjoy it. 12 Terrible (But Hilarious) Places To Work from HubSpot All-in-one Marketing Software (And, disclosure: This was not completely for amusement. There's a call-to-action at…
