Differentiating oneself in the workforce today may hold the key for many employees who are keenly interested and highly motivated to survive downsizing. While it may take extra effort, the payoff can be exponentially greater both short and long range; for the employee and the company. With discipline, determination, and drive, employees can make their mark strategically, … [Read more...]
Top 10 US Cities to Capture Small Business Recovery Act Dollars
Uncle Sam wants small business entrepreneurs to lead the nation to economic recovery--and has billions of dollars to make it happen. Small business owners are in line to receive low-interest loans and government contracts through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA). To secure your little corner of the recovery, you'll need to be at the right place with the right … [Read more...]
10 Ways to Build your Web Effectiveness
Introduction: Maintaining content-rich web profiles are the most efficient way to market your specific services to your niche audience. I recommend you devote the bulk of your marketing budget to developing excellent content and lots of it, with some additional funds set aside for design, production, and maintenance. Your web properties include: websites, blogs, wikis, … [Read more...]
Lessons taken from big business for the benefit of small business
I love reading the morning newspaper. The actual get-your-fingers-covered-with-newsprint paper newspaper. I rue the day when it is just too financially unacceptable for the Fourth Estate to continue rolling the presses. I try to avoid my newspaper's new "Morning Edition" because all too often it is filled with death and disaster news. I don't want to fill my brain with this … [Read more...]
Conversation with an internet marketing student
I had occasion this past weekend to have an engaging conversation with a student studying internet marketing. He was interviewing me on a different topic as part of a class assignment and showed me one of his textbooks…about internet marketing. That led to our discussion. At first we talked about various types of online applications that are available to join or be a part … [Read more...]
Social Networking Cures All
When done right, a good status update or twitter post can make your day or the day of someone you call "friend." Instant karma, instant love, instant attention. This society loves instant gratification and I'm no exception. I've noticed over the months that one small inspiration, witty phrase or cry for help written between the lines of a friend or co-worker never goes … [Read more...]
Security and your Social Networks: Facebook, Linkedin, and Twitter
In three separate incidences, three of my friends were infected by a computer virus which sends fake messages from their Facebook account. Because most social networks are built on a trust environment (if a link comes from your friend Angie or Ben or Juanita, you typically trust it) -- the spread of viruses is particularly exploitative. The most important thing for you to … [Read more...]
Find Out Who Your “Friends” Are
Country singer Tracy Lawrence has a great song that tells a story of a guy who's been at the top, and when he gets down on his luck he finds out who his friends are. Most of us have friended a friend of a friend (prior to Facebook that sentence would have made no sense what so ever). Then before you know it, you have 502 “friends” in your life. Well, with all the hype about … [Read more...]
Blogging – The New “In” Marketing Strategy
Blogging has become the most innovative marketing strategy since the creation of the Internet and the print sales letter. Blogs are great for online marketing campaigns because they are interactive communities for business owners and their audiences. Blogs, mostly have been used as substitutes or supplements to websites because they are user-friendly, easy to manage and … [Read more...]
Twitter, is it really what it’s Cracked Up to be?
Microblogging, particularly Twitter has revolutionized communication between people as well as companies and their markets. At first I didn’t like Twitter. In fact I didn’t even know what it was or how it worked, nevertheless understood how it related to marketing. But now that I do understand how Twitter is used and that it is the hottest new craze in terms of strategic … [Read more...]