Social Media in Plain English

If you find yourself lost in which online social media arena, check out the video below!

YouTube - Social Media in Plain English

Four Ways to Optimize Your E-Commerce Website : MarketingProfs Articles

Optimizing your E-Commerce website to gain more traffic is a pretty simple.

Create content for category pages that tend to be heavy on images and links. "[W]rite descriptions or introductory copy for each category, to be displayed above or below the product listings," he recommends. "Zappos.com, for example, places a lengthy description (more like an article) at the bottom of category pages."
Rewrite product descriptions, especially those written by your suppliers. "Although category pages may be the focus for primary keywords," he notes, "product pages offer a wealth of longtail keyword opportunities. The challenge, of course, is that in many cases product pages use manufacturer-provided descriptions, which are duplicated across many other e-commerce websites."
Write expert reviews for the products and services you sell. "Those in-depth product reviews could include images, video, detailed product testing and analysis, and other value-added content that shoppers would find useful," he says.
Write buying guides that tell customers what to look for as they comparison-shop. "The guides are especially useful for products that may require specialized knowledge to understand," he explains. "[And they] can very easily be optimized for primary or secondary keywords because they typically have keyword-rich content."

Four Ways to Optimize Your E-Commerce Website : MarketingProfs Articles

Everything I Know About Marketing, I learned from Google

2010 Social Media Landscape

Gantter - web-based project scheduling made easy

If you are looking for a Project management tool...check out Gantter - web-based project scheduling made easy.
It is a free online app that allows you to manage and schedule your day.

Open Business Models: The Importance Of Peer Production - Michel Bauwens

Ten Simple Ways to Make Your Boss Think You're Brilliant (And Indispensible) - by Dumb Little Man

Did you know the simple little things you do every day can make your boss think

Beat the Clock
Most bosses are pretty consistent on the time they get into your office. Take note. If yours always arrives at 7.50 – get there at 7.45 (even if your official start time is 8).

Bonus to you: Arriving earlier than the boss makes you look keen and eager. Plus, when you’re skiving on Twitter or Facebook later in the day, you can justify it to yourself by those 15 extra minutes in the morning.

Say “Good Morning!”
However hungover, knackered or grumpy you’re feeling first thing in the morning, plaster a great big smile on your face and say, “Good Morning!” to your boss.

Bonus to you: Two friendly words can go a long way in putting you in your boss’s good books first thing in the day. And (if you’re following the first tip), your boss will know you’re in the office bright and early.

Volunteer Strategically
If you’re in a meeting and someone asks for volunteers, be the first to put your hand up. That way, you’ll look keen and engaged. This will be a tough one to swallow if your workload is already jammed but volunteering for the right, high visibility project can increase the perception of you.

Bonus to you: You’ll ­­get the task you want (i.e. the one with least effort but highest visibility) and not get lumbered with what the boss assigns you.

Click Here to Read More on Ten Simple Ways to Make Your Boss Think You're Brilliant (And Indispensible) - by Dumb Little Man

25 Most Promising Green Businesses | Business Pundit

Look for some new business ideas? Then check out the list of 25 most promising Green Businesses. These include:

Bionic Power Inc.

Bionic Power Inc.’s Biomechanical Energy Harvester uses the energy your body creates during the process of walking to charge portable batteries. The device, which after development should weigh about two pounds, is geared towards people need easy, cheap portable power. Importing disposable batteries costs heavily in terms of fuel for transportation. Target markets include the military, public safety officials, first responders, and others who need charged batteries during blackouts. Bonus: Wearers can charge their cellphones on it at night.
Feelgoodz

Feelgoodz manufactures eco-friendly shoes using hemp, bamboo, natural rubber, and recycled paper. 3% of its profits go to charitable causes, including the Fair Trade and 1% For the Planet. Their comfortable flip-flops are all-natural and 100% biodegradable. The flip-flops could be huge if they gain an international market.
DEKA: The Slingshot

Better known as the inventor of the Segway, Dean Kamen is now manufacturing the Slingshot, a filterless water purifier that makes drinking water out of sketchy water sources like sewage, ocean water, and urine. Hoping to instigate a phenomenon, Kamen is handing units to impoverished villages. The handy device costs the rest of us $1,000-$2,000.

Click Here to Read 25 Most Promising Green Businesses | Business Pundit

Company Structure Explained

One of the best visuals we've ever seen to explain the structure of a company.

Click Here to View From nerdmeyr.com

Secrets of a $110 Million Man | Street Smarts by Norm Brodsky - StumbleUpon

This is absolutely one of the best articles that we have read in a long time. It includes smart business advice for every business owner, no matter the industry. Secrets of a $110 Million Man | Street Smarts by Norm Brodsky

1. Numbers run a business. If you don't know how to read them, you are flying blind.

When I started out, I thought that CEOs ran businesses with the help of their top executives. What I didn't realize is that a business is a living entity with needs of its own, and unless the leaders pay attention to those needs, the business will fail. So how do you know what those needs are? There's only one way: by looking at the numbers and understanding the relationships between them. They will tell you how good your sales are, whether you can afford to hire a new salesperson or office manager, how much cash you will need to deal with new business coming in, how your market is changing, and on and on. You can't afford to wait until your accountant tells you these things. Nor do you have to become an accountant. You do have to know enough accounting, however, to figure out which numbers are most important in your particular business, and then you should develop the habit of watching them like a hawk.

2. A sale isn't a sale until you collect.

There's a common assumption that when somebody buys something from you, it's like money in the bank. Sooner or later, you are going to get paid. That's not always true, of course, and just how much sooner or later the payment arrives can make a big difference. But most people don't think about that when they first go into business. The term bad debt doesn't enter their vocabulary until they suddenly find themselves with a receivable they can't collect. By the same token, the concept of collection time doesn't become meaningful until they discover they don't have enough cash to pay their bills despite having made a lot of sales.

Click Here to read entire Secrets of a $110 Million Man | Street Smarts by Norm Brodsky

Out Of 500 Million Users, Looks Like 360 Tuned In To Facebook Live

Owning a Facebook account is a great way for business owners to connect with their customers. Facebook Live is the new platform that allows Facebook users to upload video without using a third party application. Click below to read more about Facebook Live and why it would be a great place to advertise.


Out Of 500 Million Users, Looks Like 360 Tuned In To Facebook Live

Humour in Advertising: 25 Funny Ads from adsoftheworld.com | TCA inspired design

This is one of the funniest sites that we have visited in a long time. Great marketing campaigns with a strong message. Check out some of the advertising below!

Check out More Humour in Advertising: 25 Funny Ads from adsoftheworld.com | TCA inspired design

Psychological Marketing Business Tactics: Big And Small Business Ideas - Psychotactics - Big and Small Business Ideas

Are you losing customers because you don't know how the brain works?

Do you really understand how the marketing brain works? Are you harnessing its immense potential to make your business generate greater revenues? Wouldn't your strategy and tactics be vastly different, if you understood these psychological marketing ideas?

If you don't understand the simplicity and predictability of the brain, a lot of your business could be walking out the door. And you may not even realise it! Here's your opportunity to learn the psychology behind what makes your customer's brain tick. Then you can use this information, to keep them stuck to you like glue!

Click Here to Read Entire Psychological Marketing Business Tactics: Big And Small Business Ideas - Psychotactics - Big and Small Business Ideas

Just Sell&... its all about sales& | the webs resource for sales leaders&

Imagine the incredible results you’d have if you and your team really focused on a consistent basis.

You’d likely…

* contribute more
* waste less time ramping back up
* serve customers better (internally and externally)
* find more customers
* come up with more ideas
* plan better
* be less frustrated and stressed
* help others focus more (by interrupting them less)
* make more money (for everyone… including you)

Nothing’s guaranteed, of course. But it’s a better bet. (And in the long run, you’ll enjoy more.)

Just Sell&... its all about sales& | the webs resource for sales leaders&

Small Business and Small Business Information for the Entrepreneur

Until recently, online video chat services have been relatively bare-bones, better suited for a call to Grandma than a client. We tried out three services that are upping the ante with business-friendly features such as group chats.

Click Here to Check out Small Business and Small Business Information for the Entrepreneur

5 Not-So-Easy Steps to Managing Your Brand Online

Unless you literally run your business with your ears plugged and your eyes covered, you are aware of the importance of social media and its impact on both brand and bottom line. However, while social media is the topic du jour in mainstream news, on blogs, in books, at conferences and at your local Starbucks, we may still underestimate its overall promise and potential.

The socialization of business is comparable to the rabbit hole in Alice in Wonderland or the red pill in the Matrix. If ignorance is bliss, awareness is awakening. Where there’s insight, there’s opportunity – but with opportunity, there’s also a cost. In this case, that cost is financed through learning, change, adaptation and innovation.

Click Here to Read Entire Article on 5 Not-So-Easy Steps to Managing Your Brand Online

The Purpose of a Business | Small Business Marketing Blog from Duct Tape Marketing

Peter Drucker famously wrote in The Practice of Management that the purpose of a business is to create and keep a customer.

While that may indeed be true, it’s the bare minimum and something that’s required to keep the doors open (unless you’re VC funded.) I think to aim there as the purpose of a business is to shoot terribly low.

I believe the purpose of a business is to create and keep purpose."


Read More at:The Purpose of a Business | Small Business Marketing Blog from Duct Tape Marketing: "-

Alex Osterwalder about his latest book, Business Model Generation.

Can Too Much Money be a Business Problem?

Who ever thinks that too much money is a problem, especially in business? In an article about "Why Too Much Money is Worse than Too Little", our venture capitalist explains many of the pitfalls that happen when a business receives an increasing amount of cash. Issues that arise include:
1. Expenses expand to the level of funding
2. Money creates a false sense of security
3. Money makes companies hire “proven” people
4. Money makes companies buy people with salaries
5. Money causes dependence on experts and vendors.
6. Money makes entrepreneurship look like a serial process.

Source http://www.openforum.com

 

http://amsrabbit.com/cms/index.php/specials.html

4 Billion Web Video Ads Viewed in June

Still think online video is a waste of your marketing dollar? "Google Sites, driven primarily by video viewing at YouTube.com, ranked as the top video content property with 144.5 million unique viewers, followed by Yahoo Sites (44.9 million viewers) and Vevo (43.7 million viewers)." Source http://www.marketingprofs.com

Great Website for Small Business

The Business Owners Tool Kit website is a phenomenal website that has gathered various forms small business owners can use to run their business. They include IRS Tax forms, firing and termination forms, compensation and benefits, and more! When you have a minute, check it out and let us know what you think!

Business Advice : How to Protect a Business Idea

Small Business Grant

We found this contest online for small businesses and wanted to share it! 

"LoveALocalBusiness.com is Intuit's grant competition that rewards businesses who are loved by their community. But, an obvious question remains open: What does it mean to be a local business?
The Local Hero Challenge is a brief, 10-question survey that helps small businesses assess their positive impact on society, and on their local community in particular. The survey was developed in partnership with B Lab, a non-profit that certifies and supports a new type of company, called B Corporations, which use the power of business to solve social and environmental issues. The Local Hero Challenge looks at five attributes important to B Corporations - environment, consumers, community, employees and accountability.
Small businesses owners often are recognized as community leaders, but, we expect many of you will learn that you're much more important - you're a Local Hero. In addition to a copy of the final survey results, every business who completes the Local Hero Challenge will get a special badge to share on their Website or blog. Learn more here."

Visible Vote Ap

As a small business owner it is important to keep in touch with legislation your Representatives is proposing in Washington regarding small businesses.  The Visible Vote Ap not only let you know what new legislation is being proposed, but it also allows you to vote on the legislation. These votes can then be compared to how your Representative voted. This is a great way to monitor how your Representative is working for you and your business.

Check out the Visible Vote Application at: http://www.visiblevote.us/

How to Manage What People Are Saying About Your Business

Managing your online presence is a daunting task. There are increasingly more and more places for customers to spread the word about your business...good or bad. To manage the online word of mouth we recommend checking out Google Alerts. This free tool provided by Google allows you to enter a specific search term or keyword that you would like monitored. Google will email you an update every time the search term is mentioned. Be sure to be specific in your search phrase, or you will receive an overwhelming amount of updates. You can also specify where online you would like to monitor your search term such as a blog, news article, video downloads or discussions.

So when you have a minute, check it out : Google Alerts

 

 

Advanced Media Solutions - Specializing in CD and DVD Replications

Twitter Tips

You've heard it on this blog before, and at the risk of repeating ourselves, we are going to say it again. Social Media sites are quickly becoming some of the most important tools to promoting your business. Still feel uncomfortable about using them. Take a look at a great article we found about "50 Power Twitter Tips". It has a great list of some Twitter tips including:

"1. Don’t read EVERY tweet. It’s perfectly okay. You have permission.
2. Promote other people 12x to every 1 self-promotional tweet.
3. A non-standard background and face avatar means we believe you may be human.
4. Finding people who need what you’re selling trumps advertising to us.
5. Tweeting the content of events is nice, but so is occasionally making a real live connection with the speaker.

Source chrisbrogan.com

Video About "The Upside" Predictably Irrational

Presentation Tips That Stick

Facebook and Small Business

If you still think a Facebook page for your small business is a waste of time, we recommend taking a look at the stats below. You just might want to change your mind! "Facebook wasn’t only the top search term in America, again, according to Experian Hitwise, it was also the most visited website for a week in the days ending 2009 and beginning 2010. With an increase of 185% in the last year, Facebook accomplished something truly remarkable, if for only but a moment, it beat Google Search as the top destination online. It should also not go unsaid, that combined, Facebook and Google accounted for 14% of all US Internet visits during the week of March 8th, 2010." Source briansolis.com

3 Deadly Threats Against Small Businesses Today

"Despite the economy apparently growing for government and corporations, most small business owners I work with are increasingly terrorized by the unholy alliance of big business  and government.  Across political parties, this alliance is creating an increasingly toxic environment for small business success."

Read More "3 Deadly Threats Against Small Business Today".

 

Advanced Media Solutions - Specializing in CD and DVD Replications

Free Desktop Apps for Small Businesses

Feeling a little intimidated by all the technology choices out there? We found a great article that has a simple list of desktop apps that will make your life a little bit easier. They don't require extensive technical knowledge either.

Communication:

"Jing – Jing is a free and functional desktop application used anytime you want to share what you see on your screen with someone else. Jing allows an easy interface for capturing, editing, and sharing screenshots for online conversations, marketing, web-posting, email, or whatever else you can think to use it for. Exclusively for the Mac, Skitch is equally effective, and just as free.

Skype – Many have already signed on with this popular communication software that can put you in contact with anyone in the world. Free and desktop-based, Skype can be used for anything from worldwide video conferencing to inter-office collaboration via instant message. Also it’s hard to beat their file-sharing with quick speeds and no limit to file size.

TweetDeck – If you use Twitter for your business, TweetDeck is a must-have desktop app. It saves you the time of opening a browser and signing in, and the visual interface makes it easy for your marketing team to craft tweets, manage contacts, and spread the word about your business."

Check out the article at SmallBizTrends.com to view more apps.

Storytelling and Marketing

Marketing is all about relating a great, memorable story to your audience (think Superbowl ads). Check out the link below to learn some great story telling tips.

 

Advanced Media Solutions - Specializing in CD and DVD Replications

Increasing Your Website Traffic

Surprisingly, the best way to increase traffic to your website is with a blog! According to All The Business, your traffic could increase up to 55%. That is an incredible return. What is it about a blog that can generate such a great return? Many times, a sale happens because your company is "in the right place at the right time when a customer is ready to purchase." A blog keeps your company's brand relevant. Enticing a customer to come back to your blog for information, gives business the the chance to remind customers about their product. This also means that your "brand" will most likely be "in the right place at the right time" when a customer is looking for a product that you sell. Some popular blogging tools for businesses are Blogger and Wordpress, both free aps with interfaces that make if fairly easy to set up.

New Study Examines U.S. Twitter Usage

Twitter Usage in America 2010 from Tom Webster on Vimeo.

A $10 app saves hours of commuting

Great story from CNN. If you are spending hours in the car commuting from job to job, then consider the Pixetell app. It allows "...last year, when Galloway got his hands on software called Pixetell -- a sort of 'e-mail meets voicemail meets Web conferencing' tool. Now, for $720 a year, Galloway and five of his top employees can send detailed multimedia e-mail messages. They can shoot video and photos and describe them in a voiceover, and motion with a mouse to highlight key points in architectural drawings and spreadsheets. Project managers in the field often take snapshots of what they're working on and send them to Galloway along with their comments." This app means less time physically visiting onsite projects and more time traveling to meet with new customers.

 

Advanced Media Solutions - Specializing in CD and DVD Replications

7 Steps to Small Business Marketing Success with PRWeb

Are SBA Loans Really Growing Like Gangbusters?

A recent Growthink blog post titled “SBA Loans Are Growing like Gangbusters” included reference to SBA administrator Karen Mills’ statement that average weekly SBA loan approvals have gone up 86 percent since the American Recovery & Reinvestment Act became law. Similarly, an SBA fact sheet reported that “From Feb. 17, 2009 to Apr. 16, 2010, weekly SBA loan dollar volumes rose more than 90 percent in the 7(a) and 504 programs, compared to the weekly average before passage.” These numbers give the impression that the American Recovery & Reinvestment Act has put a lot of SBA loans in the hands of America’s small business owners. But how do loan volumes compare to anything other than the nadir of a frozen small business credit market in late 2008 and early 2009?" Click Here to View SBA Loan Graph

Things to Consider When Placing your Ad

There are many pieces to consider when building a marketing campaign. As Practical Discussions of Marketing points out: "...Here’s what gets missed by some marketers/advertisers. If you aren’t doing a full-page ad, there will be stories and other ads next to yours. Know what they are going to be! Here are the things you will want to avoid: * Being next to stories/articles about something negative, devastating or horrific. It happens all the time in consumer-based publications and newspapers. So marketers…do you really want your ad next to the story about the cheating politician or worse…a story about a company that cheated their clients out of millions? * Being next to a competitor (with a better ad). Nothing like having your boss open the publication only to have him/her see your crappy black and white ad next to a competitor’s full color, high impact ad. " This advice is commons sense, but often overlooked!

Creative Financing Options

Whether you are a new business or have been in business for years, there always a need at one time or another for financing.  "While traditional lenders have been sticking to their strict underwriting guidelines here are several creative business financing options that may just help get you the funds you need:"

Merchant Cash Advance
Social Lending
Vendor Lines of Credit
Equipment Leasing

Click Here to Read Full Article on Creative Financing Options
 
 

 

Video Blog: Take a Risk with your Communication

Check out the Video Blog Take a Risk with your Communication

Tax Workshop

The Virtual Small Business Tax Workshop is composed of nine interactive lessons designed to help new small business owners learn their tax rights and responsibilities.

For more audio and video presentations, visit the Small Business Video and Audio Presentations.

Shoppers Seek Coupons and Free Shipping Offers

Did you know one of the biggest reasons people will not buy from your website is because you don't offer free shipping?

"Among a variety of holiday specials and shopping tactics, store coupons and free-shipping offers were the two incentives most used by shoppers during the fourth-quarter 2009 holiday-shopping season, according to a survey from MARC Research.

Nearly one-half of shoppers surveyed said they took advantage of store coupons (46%) or free online shipping (45%) when they shopped for gifts in the fourth quarter."

Click Here to Check out More online shopping trends.

Making Ideas Happen Podcast

Making Ideas Happen chronicles the methods of exceptionally productive creative leaders and teams – companies like Google, IDEO, and Disney, and individuals like author Chris Anderson and Zappos CEO Tony Hsieh – that make their ideas happen, time and time again.

Click Here to listen to the "Making Ideas Happen Podcast"

Marketing at it's Best?

Watch below and let us know what you think.

Recommended Book Reading

The New Rules of Marketing and PR shows you how to leverage the potential that Web-based communication offers your business. Finally, you can speak directly to customers and buyers, establishing a personal link with the people who make your business work.

This new second edition paperback keeps you up-to-date on the latest trends.

* New case studies and current examples are included to illustrate the very latest in marketing and PR trends.
* Completely updated to reflect the latest marketing and PR techniques using social media sites such as Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube
* Includes a step-by-step action plan for harnessing the power of the Internet to communicate directly with buyers, increase sales, and raise online visibility
* David Meerman Scott is a renowned online marketing strategist, keynote speaker and the author of World Wide Rave, from Wiley

The New Rules of Marketing and PR, Second Edition gives you all the information you need to craft powerful and effective marketing messages and get them to the right people at the right moment-at a fraction of the price of a traditional marketing campaign.

Effective Customer Testimonials

Customer testimonials are a great way to let your potential customer know about your services.

The Secret Life of Testimonials gives some tips to presenting great customer testimonials. Including a popular technique called the "reverse testimonial."

"Traditional testimonials start off with praise, then continue with even more praise.

A reverse testimonial talks about doubt. It starts with the skepticism first. It describes the fear or uncertainty racing through the customer’s mind at the point of purchase.

A reverse testimonial works because it speaks to us in the way we speak to each other. When we’re recommending a restaurant or a movie to a friend, we naturally lace our recommendations with doubt.

We say things like: “You know that seedy-looking restaurant, and how you don’t really feel like going inside? They’ve actually got the most amazing food.”

Or we say things like: “You know that fancy looking restaurant that you think may be over-priced? Well we went there last night, and we had the most delicious food, and the bill was far less than we expected.”

You can view the entire "Secret Life of Testimonials." here

Why Social Media Strategies are Essential to Business Marketing

Facebook, Twitter, and various other social media sites are are great way to spread the word about your business offerings and services. Check out the stats below:

* The primary activities online are Searches on search engines (i.e. Google) and Social Media (e.g. Facebook) and hold an average of 23% and 22% (Hitwise) respectively.
* What ranks well in Google is relevant (keyword density, targeted pages on site etc), engaging (more comments etc.) and authoritative (more link backs) content
* Naturally, most of this content is starting to come from social media (blogs were the first of many strong linking strategies etc.)

Dr. Joyce Brothers Quote

The person interested in success has to learn to view failure as a healthy, inevitable part of the process of getting to the top.

Marketing During a Tough Economy

In tough economic times, you shouldn't be pulling back on your marketing and sales efforts. There is no time like the present to get out there and be pro-active! We've put together a list of 5 things you can do during the recession to stay in business.

1. Do NOT pull back on marketing dollars - If you are serious about staying in business, then get out there and find those customers that are not longer being serviced by other businesses who have failed.

2. Low Cost Alternatives - If your income is feeling the pinch, don't be afraid to use low cost marketing alternatives. There are many free and inexpensive resources out there that will garner the results that you are looking for.

3. Creating strategic partnerships - Find other businesses in your community that are also struggling and promote their services, while they agree to promote yours. Don't be afraid to offer a finders fee or sales commissions to these businesses.

4. Get in touch with your current customers - Let them know that your business isn't going anywhere and that you are ready and willing to service their needs.

5. Stay Calm - With all the tales of woe and failure, it can be easy to get caught up in the panic and hype of the recession. However, the worst thing that you can do to your clients is to let them smell the fear on you. Staying calm and maintaining a "business as usual" attitude can make you stand out among all the negativity, and will most likely draw an audience to you.

Keep your head down, continue to persist and don't be afraid to get a little aggressive when finding new business!

Tony Robbins talking about Motivation in a Slump

10 Ten Ways to Waste Money on Business Cards

Found a great .pdf that lists 10 Ways to Waste Money on Business Cards

"Your business card should enhance your brand and be welcomed by your target market which is relatively easy to accomplish. However, many people needlessly waste money on business cards - money that could be put to better use in other areas of your marketing and business development. As such, here is my list of "Top Ten Ways to Waste Money on Business Cards".

Click Here to Read Entire List

How to Apply for Small Business Loans

With the recent banking crisis, headlines have been screaming that small businesses are struggling to get loans and lines of credit. The news is depressing and daunting to those who might be struggling with the sluggish economy. However, we found a great article by Entreprenuer that outlines some of the basic things you need to successfully apply for loans.

"Things have not changed so dramatically. A business owner should follow the same guidelines they've needed to follow for years.

No. 1 is have a business plan, spend some time on it and understand it. Understand your financial situation--if it's a brand-new business, have an accountant help you prepare business projections so you can demonstrate to a lender you have the capacity to repay the loan.

Also make sure you have as clean a personal credit [record] as possible. We're looking at the personal credit as well as the business credit."

Click here to Read Full Article

Putting Together a Presentation that People Will Remember

Are you feeling like your sales pitch has lost it's luster and shine? Presentation Zen has put together some ideas that will help you spruce up your presentation pitch.

When it comes to learning and genuinely retaining something, nothing beats experiences. Formal educational or speaking settings don't always allow for actual hands-on experience with the content, but almost every learning situation — including presentation in various forms — does permit the use of stories. Stories, that is, that illustrate the content and bring people in, enabling them to "experience" the material in an engaging, visual, and imaginative way. A way that will be remembered. One can use analogy, or metaphor, or the depiction or verbal reenactment of actual, relevant events that illuminate and make the material more real and more memorable. Stories have an emotional component and when you engage people's emotions, even just a little bit, you stand a better chance of them paying attention and remembering your point (whether or not they agree with you is another matter entirely).
Click Here to Read Entire Article

The Importance of Twitter

With so many things to accomplish daily, as a small business owner, how can Twitter help? Toyota seems to thinks so as they have most recently used Twitter to help deal with backlash from the lastest recalls.
With the recent recall of Toyota products and the ensuing backlash, they've actually turned to Twitter to help with their brand image.

“Toyota has been dealing with negative backlash from the massive safety recalls of its vehicles; and is even suffering in terms of sales. So what does the company do to repair its image? Turn to Twitter, of course! The Japanese auto giant has launched a branded channel on TweetMeme, in partnership with Federated Media, which aggregates and organize Twitter conversations regarding Toyota.

Called Toyota Conversations, the site brings together the top stories being Tweeted about Toyota, from news articles to press releases. The site also shows visitors the most popular videos and images being shared about Toyota on Twitter. And the channel includes a Featured Tweets from Toyota’s Twitter account and press room as well as AdTweets, which are Tweetmeme’s retweetable ads for Toyota.

You may notice after taking a look at all of the top stories that are being aggregated on the site, that most of the news is positive. That doesn’t seem to match the general tone of the media writing about Toyota, which has been quick to criticize the car company for its manufacturing mistakes. If you take a look at Twitter sentiment app Tweetfeel, the sentiment of Tweets mentioning Toyota lean more negative. Tweetmeme channels can be set up to pick up only certain news sources. It looks like Toyota picked the friendlier ones.

That being said, it’s definitely interesting to see such a high-profile company taking to Twitter to try to reform its image by engaging directly in a dialogue with consumers. As we’ve seen with the recent Southwest/Kevin Smith incident, Twitter is influencing public relations in unprecedented ways. Now more than ever, brands are flocking to Twitter to not only monitor and track what’s being said about their company on Twitter but to influence and participate in the conversation.”

So take some time to go to http://www.twitter.com and set up your account today.

10 Ways to Market Your Business for Free

One of the keys to a successful business is persistence. Here is a list of 10 things you can do to market your business for free!!

1. There are many online options that will allow you to post a free ad for your business...so spend a few hours looking at free online classifieds.

2. Offer to give a presentation at business meetings, your local library, and/or Chamber of Commerce. Make sure to have plenty of business cards on hand to give to potential customers.

3. Use your current customers to sell for you. Don't be afraid to ask for testimonials that you can publish on your website, or brochures.

4. Start a blog (you can do this for free with a Google account) to showcase your expertise, even if you don't think you have enough content for your blog. You might surprise yourself with how much expertise and info you have to offer. If possible, include video in your blog as well as text.

5. Send out press releases to both online and offline sources.

6. Submit articles online to different article directories for free.

7. Talk to local business owners to see if they would be willing to 'cross-promote', meaning you promote their business to your clients while they promote your business.

8. Ask for referrals. Some of your best customers can be referred to you by your Mom or a close family friend. They are most likely your biggest fans and want to see you succeed. So don't shy away from asking those closest to you for a referral.

9. Stay in touch with your current customers. If you have their address...send them promotions in the mail. If you have emails, don't be afraid to send promotions and sales via email.

10. Participate in online discussion groups and forums. These are free, and will also allow you to showcase your expertise. There are a lot of people looking for help in online forums. Make sure that you are available to help them!