This week I am leading the small business panel at the 140 Characters Conference in Los Angeles, California. This is pretty significant for our company, and for each of you, in that I will be sharing how small business is being effected by the real-time internet. Basically, I’m going to talk about how Facebook and Twitter (social media) are helping your business in the current state of the world, even in this economy.
This panel and conference isn’t all about me. I’ll be sharing the stage with some fantastic co-panelists: Scott Townsend of United Linen and Neal Rohrbach of Idea Anglers. Together we hope to give you a rounded view of how small business works with these medias from beginning to end. We’re calling our panel Small as a Tweet. We’re taking a few questions up front. If there’s anything specific that you’d...
By Kim Fenolio · October 26 2009
small business, twitter, facebook, kim fenolio
Tips from October 14, 2009 The Small Business tips today will talk about how turning to social media will improve customer service.
Twitter allows for up to the minute updates for openings, new products, sales, and limited time offers.
Customers talk about experiences on Twitter: provide exceptional service and personalize to get great buzz.
Use Twitter to build up your small businesses by retweeting testimonials & customer satisfaction stories.
Build a community of customers with a Facebook Fan page. Ask for feedback & give new Fans coupons.
Daily Overview: Social media is an excellent way to keep up in real time and positivity about your biz.
By Cheryl Sowa · October 14 2009
small business tips, small business, customer service, social media
Tips from October 1, 2009 The Small Business tips today discuss how to leverage a bit of social media for your business.
Create a LinkedIn profile & page for your small business. Join entrepreneur/small business groups. Get your business networked.
Use Twitter and it's searchable database to find your target audience. Begin networking, talking, being social and offer out some special deals.
Facebook Fan Pages for business: tell your story, get members, upload pictures/videos. If your business has a blog, import your RSS feed using one of the Facebook applications for that purpose.
Can't afford commercials? Create viral videos for YouTube. Create a channel for your business, post to Facebook Fan pages and share on all the other social networks you're a part of.
Daily Overview: Find the areas of social media that are going to be able to do the most for your business. Network, get social and connect with both c...
By Cheryl Sowa · October 01 2009
small business tips, small business, social media, linkedin
Government, Politics, and the Economyhttp://online.wsj.com/article/SB125233977333690447.html Key Week for Obama Starts on Feisty Note President Obama starts off the Tuesday after Labor Day by stressing the importance of his new government-run-health-insurance program, while key senators collaborated for a bipartisan deal. WSJ.com Management and Operationshttp://www.womenentrepreneur.com/2009/09/hiring-without-the-headaches.html Hiring Without the Headaches Salary, taxes, and benefits are just some of the worries that arise for entrepreneurs when they decide to add on to their workforce. Small businesses need to have a hiring process in place to effectively hire employees for their small businesses. WomenEntrepreneur.com Management and Operationshttp://entrepreneur.com/sales/customerservicecolumnistsydneybarrows/article203136.html Prioritize the Customer Experien...
By Cheryl Sowa · September 08 2009
small business brief, marketing, small business, sales
Government, Politics, and the EconomyInflation Will Accelerate Next Decade, Economists Say According to a poll taken by the National Association for Business Economics, the Federal Reserve cannot prevent the trillions of dollars from the stimulus package from inflation over the next decade, rising an average of 3% per year from 2014 through 2018. Bloomberg.comGovernment, Politics, and the Economy What's North Dakota Doing Right? As the rest of the nation painfully struggles with balancing the budget and rising unemployment, the state of North...
By Cheryl Sowa · September 01 2009
small business brief, small business, customer service, sales
Tips from July 24, 2009 The Small Business tips today discuss how to use Facebook to market your business.
Create a Facebook Page instead of a Group for your business. People can become fans & receive better updates & more info.
Brand your business. Include content about your business & show what is unique. Personalize. Upload your logo, pics, & videos.
Inform your fans on your Facebook Page using feeds, posting articles, links, or photos & videos relevant to your business & fans.
Invite friends & family to your Page to create buzz about your business. Start personal at first, then customers & the community.
Daily Overview: Start a Facebook Fan Page with relevant info, personality, & start "close to home."
By Cheryl Sowa · July 24 2009
small business tips, small business, facebook, page
Government, Politics and the Economy
Build America Bonds Signal Lower Appeal of Municipal Debt
Barack Obama may be the worst thing that ever happened to tax-exempt bonds, but states and municipalities are loving his Build America Bonds, at least so far. Bloomberg.com
Experts: Economy is Going to Improve
Sure, the US economy may have contracted sharply in the first quarter, but according to some economists, there are sunnier skies are on the horizon. FoxNews.com
Management and Operations
By Charles M Cooper · June 25 2009
small business brief, marketing, small business, economy
Government and Economy
Geithner: Economy Stabilizing, Pain Ahead
Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner said on Monday the U.S. economy was beginning to stabilize, but cautioned that consumers will still feel the pain of the current recession. Reuters.com
Post-Recession America: A Vastly Different EconomyWith the US economy beginning to show some early signs of stabilization, people are wondering what the “new normal” economy is really going to look like? Here are some thoughts. MSNBC.com
Management and Financial Issues
By Charles M Cooper · May 18 2009
small business brief, marketing, small business, economy
