Hand Selected Events, Awards and Contests to Check Out! |  |
- Hand Selected Events, Awards and Contests to Check Out!
- From Our Community: Rules for Customer Service and More
- Follow Your Favorite Small Business Trends Authors on Google+
- Why You Should “Start With Why”
| Hand Selected Events, Awards and Contests to Check Out! Posted: 01 Mar 2014 03:45 PM PST It’s Saturday, and it’s time for another of our hand-curated lists of small business webinars, conferences, awards and contests. We’ve got the best listed here — so check them out and find something to continue your education, get publicity for your business, or find some necessary funding. And if this 30-day look isn’t enough, check out the full extended list at the Small Business Events Calendar. Or submit your own so the community can see it. Give us a short time to review your submission to make sure it’s relevant and high quality, and you too can have it appear on the community calendar. Featured Events, Contests and Awards
Could you use some cash to grow? It may be easier than you think to get some needed funding. Reserve your spot on this informative webinar. In conjunction with the release of its second annual report analyzing women’s small business challenges, Biz2Credit will host The Venus and Mars of Small Business Finance webinar on Thursday, March 6, from 3:00 – 4:00 p.m. EST, during which entrepreneurs can ask advice of small business finance experts. Will cover funding for women business owners. Moderated by Anita Campbell, founder, CEO and Publisher of Small Business Trends, it also features Rohit Arora, CEO of Biz2Credit; Lisa Cook, Associate Professor of Economics and International Relations, Michigan State and a member of the President’s Council of Economic Advisers (2011-2012). And John John Meyer, Director of Education for The Company Corporation
AM Days is the must attend event for affiliate managers who are responsible for their company’s affiliate marketing strategy, management and operations. Whether you have an existing affiliate program or you are creating a new initiative, AMDays offers you valuable insight into how other online retailers are successfully implementing and managing their affiliate programs. Topics include: Affiliate program set up; Affiliate recruitment techniques; Affiliate marketing fraud; M-commerce; and much more.
The Small Business Book Awards honor the best business books published in 2013, and book resources (such as cover design, copy editing and more). No fee required. Get the recognition your book or resource deserves. Nominate now through April 30, 2014! Hashtag: #BizBookAwards
#ICON14 is the eighth annual conference for small business, hosted by Infusionsoft (previously called Infusioncon). Over 3,000 attendees expected. Confirmed speakers include Seth Godin, JJ Ramberg and Peter Shankman. Hashtag: #ICON14 More Events
More Contests
This weekly listing of small business events, contests and awards is provided as a community service by Small Business Trends and SmallBizTechnology. The post Hand Selected Events, Awards and Contests to Check Out! appeared first on Small Business Trends.      |
| From Our Community: Rules for Customer Service and More Posted: 01 Mar 2014 12:00 PM PST In our community news and information roundup, we collect small business sources from across the Web. Here are some important links from the sites we’ve been following this week. Have Clear Rules for Customer Service (Click Click) There’s almost endless talk online, it seems, about time worn business adages like: “The customer is always right.” Here Joe McIntyre of the Click Click Blog addresses that policy by asking a simple question. Are we hurting our business and other customers by trying to meet unreasonable customer demands? Consider the Lean Startup Path (Pinellas County SCORE) If you’re creating a business plan from marketing research only, without talking to actual customers, you’re not following the lean startup plan. That may or may not be important to you. But one blogger from the Pinellas County, Fla. chapter of SCORE gives some reasons it should be. Here’s Why Small Businesses are Important (The Murray Group) Ryan Hanley has an interesting post here on a topic that’s rarely discussed. We accept small business survival as an absolute good these days. We see it as a driver of the economy. But in practical terms, Hanley, who works with plenty of small business owners, explains why they are really so important. You Need an Effective Strategic Plan (Strategy and More) Renee Sanders talks about the importance of strategic plans in small businesses. But what is requires may be a less static and rigid approach than many business leaders are used to. Here’s what your business needs instead. Here are Some Tips to Manage Reputation (Rawson Internet Marketing) One solution for reputation management of your business is to create an authentic social media presence. But you may still be wondering what kind of social media qualifies as “authentic.” Here Richard Rawson suggests five ways to build a social media community with which your audience and customers can connect. Facebook is Gaining On Google as Traffic Referrer (Marketing Land) It’s no secret to anyone that social media continues to be a growing influence in traffic referrals to websites. But a recent report gives a particularly dramatic view of how Facebook is eroding the dominance once held by Google. Matt McGee has more. Build a Better Newsletter (Bizactions) You doubtless already know the importance of a newsletter for your online business or for your company’s online presence. One important way to improve on the quality of your newsletter is to tie it in with the quality content on your website. Here Leslie Self of Bizactions shares tips to connect your newsletter with your other online content. Make Your Web Presence Responsive (Metis Communications) The growth in the popularity of mobile shows no sign of slowing. If you don’t want to continue building different versions of your Web presence for every screen, fortunately there’s another option. Web developer Niko Matses explains. This is How Fast Businesses Can Be Built (Shea Laughlin) OK, launching a new product or business each month may be a bit too ambitious for most. But sometimes entrepreneurs may forget just how easy it can be to launch a new business. So here Shea Laughlin gives us a look at a truly aggressive launch schedule…even if he can’t always meet it. Here’s Some Data on Mobile Shopping Trends (Mail in Mobile) We said earlier how mobile continues to be important for business. Here’s some specific data about how the mobile revolution is affecting retail specifically. Understanding mobile behavior is critical to almost all retailers these days. Check out this infographic and other details to learn more. Help us improve our community roundup each week. If you know of something we should share here, drop us an email at sbtips@gmail.com. Or post it on the BizSugar community. It’s the source we often turn to for unique small business content. Tablet power user: Shutterstock The post From Our Community: Rules for Customer Service and More appeared first on Small Business Trends.     |
| Follow Your Favorite Small Business Trends Authors on Google+ Posted: 01 Mar 2014 09:00 AM PST Small Business Trends has a large team of writers and experts who bring their small business experience to the articles you find here each week. Most are entrepreneurs themselves and offer unique insights into the world of business ownership. If you’re interested in learning more about them, follow your favorite Small Business Trends authors on Google+. Anita Campbell, Small Business Trends Founder and Publisher Anita Campbell is the Founder, CEO and Publisher of Small Business Trends. She shares a variety of articles from the site as well as other reputable business publications. [View as a single page or a slideshow by clicking your choice of the two buttons below.] A recognized expert on DIY marketing, Ivana Taylor shares marketing strategies on her site, DIYMarketers.com, and shares related content from a variety of sources on her Google+ page. Margie Zable Fisher, Zable Fisher Public Relations Margie Zable Fisher works with small businesses as the President of Zable Fisher Public Relations, and uses her Google+ page to share some of her expertise in areas like publicity and marketing. Shawn Hessinger, Small Business Trends Editor Journalist and Small Business Trends Editor Shawn Hessinger uses his Google+ page to share a variety of news and updates from the tech and business worlds. TJ McCue is a business advisor and content writer for multiple business related websites. His Google+ page consists of links to his various articles, product reviews, and other resources from around the Web. Sramana Mitra's global virtual incubator, 1M/1M (One Million by One Million) aims to help a million entrepreneurs reach $1 million in revenue. On her Google+ page, she shares news and updates related to startups, social media, technology and more. Rieva Lesonsky has been covering small business and entrepreneurship for over 26 years with her content and consulting company GrowBiz Media, Entrepreneur Magazine, and other online and print media outlets. Her Google+ page is a mix of posts about entrepreneurship, tips, success stories and more. Deborah Shane, DeborahShaneToolBox.com Deborah Shane's career background has included transitions through several industries including entertainment, education, sales and media. Now, she works to guide others through career transitions through her writing, speaking, and social media content including her Google+ page. Search engine and social media marketing expert David Wallace is the Founder and CEO of SearchRank. He shares a variety of resources on his Google+ page related to search engines, marketing and current events. Amie Marse, Content Equals Money Content Equals Money is a small content generation firm founded by Amie Marse, who shares a wide variety of photos, videos and links on her personal Google+ page. Drew Hendricks, Tech and Business Writer Seattle based entrepreneur Drew Hendricks writes articles related to business, technology and environmental issues for a variety of publications. He shares those articles, along with links to other online resources, on his Google+ page. William Johnson, Big Eye Deers Web designer William Johnson shares a variety of resources on his Google+ page, including those related to SEO, social media and Web design. Mark Anderson is the man behind Andertoons cartoons. He shares links to posts about business and pop culture, along with his own work on his Google+ page. Jeanne Bliss is a writer and customer loyalty expert who founded CustomerBliss.com to help businesses create a better customer experience. Laura Leites, L2 Event Production Laura Leites is an event planner who has worked on small business events including the Small Business Influencer Awards, The Small Business Summit, the Small Business Technology Tour and more live and virtual events. Diane Helbig, Seize This Day Coaching Business Coach Diane Helbig works with budding entrepreneurs, people in career transition and anyone looking to improve their business or professional skills. Her Google+ page is a compilation of professional tips, business articles and other online resources. Megan Totka, Chamber of Commerce Megan Totka is the Chief Editor for ChamberofCommerce.com, a site that provides resources and news aimed at small businesses. Robert Ottinger, Ottinger Firm, P.C. Lawyer Robert Ottinger specializes in employment related matters for executives and employees. His Google+ page includes a mix of legal resources and entertaining photos and videos. Nellie Akalp is the CEO of CorpNet, a legal document filing service for businesses. Her Google+ page focuses on legal issues, business tips and even tax information. CRM expert Brent Leary uses his Google+ page to share updates related to all things business and technology. Pratik Dholakiya, E2M Solutions Pratik Dholakiya is the lead SEO strategist at E2M Solutions and has written about SEO for a number of reputable publications. He shares about SEO, social media marketing and content marketing on his Google+ page. Susan Payton, Egg Marketing & Communications Susan Payton is the President of content marketing firm Egg Marketing & Communications. On her Google+ page, she shares links relating to all things business and marketing from a variety of online sources. Timothy Carter has more than 14 years of experience working with businesses about online marketing. His Google+ page contains business tips ranging from online marketing to trade show strategy. Jon Gelberg, The Dilenschneider Group Jon Gelberg is a pricipal at The Dilenschneider Group, an NCY based communications and PR agency. He's written and spoken about content marketing and public relations on a number of publications and forums. Jennifer Shaheen, The Technology Therapy Group Instructor Jennifer Shaheen teaches entrepreneurs about the value of Web design and social media marketing with her company, The Technology Therapy Group. Her Google+ page includes links to a variety of online sources covering business and technology news and tips. Ann Smarty is the owner of My Blog Guest, a service that connects blog owners with guest bloggers. She's also worked on a number of other projects related to blogging, SEO and Internet marketing. Joel Libava, The Franchise King Franchise expert Joel Libava uses his Google+ page to share tips and resources related to all aspects of running a franchise business. John Follis shares his expertise in video creation and marketing on Small Business Trends and other forums. On his Google+ page, he shares updates from his company, Big Idea Video, as well as other marketing and online video related links. Curt Finch is the CEO of Journyx, a company that automates payroll, billing and cost accounting. His Google+ page is a mix of business links, photos and videos and other updates. Amanda DiSilvestro, Higher Visibility Amanda DiSilvestro has written for nearly 250 blogs across the Web and specializes in all aspects of SEO. She shares updates about SEO, writing and online marketing on her Google+ page. Shashi Bellamkonda, The Bozzuto Group Shashi Bellamkonda specializes in social media and digital marketing with the Bozzuto Group and also runs a blog and serves as an adjunct professor at Georgetown University. He shares business updates, events and photos on his Google+ page. Robert Brady, Righteous Marketing Robert Brady specializes in pay-per-click (PPC) marketing with his company Righteous Marketing. His Google+ page is a compilation of updates from his business and other online sources. Barbara Weltman, Big Ideas for Small Business Author and Attorney Barbara Weltman uses her expertise in tax, law and finances to share resources and tips with small businesses both in her online writing and newsletters, and on her social media pages including Google+. Yaniv Masjedi is the Vice President of Marketing at Nextiva. He shares company updates, news and marketing tips on his Google+ page. Tom Gazaway, Hawkeye Management Tom Gazaway's Hawkeye Management provides small business loans and working capital solutions to small businesses. He is well known for being a FICO scores expert and other issues relating to business credit. Rohit Arora is an expert in small business finance and the Founder of Biz2Credit. The company shares tips, financial information and links to other online resources on its Google+ page. Chris Miles, Miles Technologies Chris Miles is the Founder of Miles Technologies, an IT consulting, software, Web design and online marketing firm. The company's Google+ page shares blog posts related to social media, software updates and other tech tips aimed at entrepreneurs and professionals. Mark O'Neill, Small Business Trends Writer Freelance writer Mark O'Neill shares his expertise on business and tech through a number of different online publications. His Google+ page is a mix of links to his posts, business tips, photos and videos. Affiliate marketing expert Geno Prussakov uses his Google+ page to share updates ranging from business event announcements to links to affiliate marketing resources. Cathy Larkin is the owner of both Web Savvy PR and Keep It Simple Web Design. Both companies aim to understand and make use of technology and online tools like social media. Joshua Sophy, Small Business Trends Writer Joshua Sophy is a staff writer for Small Business Trends who shares a wide array of small business and technology news on his Google+ page. Ivan Widjaya is the Founder and CEO of online marketing agency Previso Media and several small business blogs such as Noobpreneur and Biz Penguin. His Google+ page consists of links to small business articles and resources from a variety of sources. Annie Pilon, Small Business Trends Writer And lastly, I’m Annie Pilon. My Google+ page is a compilation of feature posts from Small Business Trends and other links and personal updates. The post Follow Your Favorite Small Business Trends Authors on Google+ appeared first on Small Business Trends.     |
| Why You Should “Start With Why” Posted: 01 Mar 2014 06:00 AM PST
So writes Simon Sinek in his book, “Start With Why: How Great Leaders Inspire Everyone to Take Action.” Sinek, author, ethnographer and speaker, is best known for popularizing the concept of Why and for the talk he gave on the subject that became the second most watched talk of all time on TED.com. In Start With Why, Sinek (@simonsinek) explains why some people and organizations are more innovative, more profitable and command greater loyalties from customers and employees alike. Most importantly, however, is that they are able to repeat their success over and over. The Wright Brothers Had the Right StuffNot many people know that the Wright brothers were not the only ones working on a flying machine. Samuel Pierpont Langley, an astronomer, physicists, inventor, mathematician and a pioneer in aviation, was given a $50,000 grant from the War Department to fund his project. He pulled together the best minds of the day and used the finest materials. The Wright brothers, on the other hand, had no college education, no one to fund their project, and their team of friends and neighbors worked out of their bicycle shop. But we all know how this story ends. Both teams were highly motivated, had excellent work ethics, and had a common goal. So what did the Wright brothers have that Langley did not?
Difference Between Motivation and InspirationThere’s quite a big difference between motivation and inspiration. If motivation is when you get hold of an idea and carry it through to its conclusion, then inspiration is the exact opposite. Inspiration is when an idea gets hold of you and carries you to where you are intended to go. Motivation is an outside-in approach, whereas inspiration is an inside-out approach. Start with Why is a book about the inside-out approach. It’s about inspiration. The Golden CircleSinek has discovered what he calls the Golden Circle: An unconventional perspective that explains why we are inspired by some people, leaders, messages and organizations over others.
This is not true for inspiring companies and leaders, asserts Sinek. Every single one of them thinks, acts and communicates from the inside-out. By utilizing his Golden Circle, Sinek firmly believes that anyone can learn to inspire. The Proof is in the Apple PuddingSinek frequently uses Apple as an example for his Golden Circle, and for good reason: Not only are their Whats (products) easy to identify, but their Why is so palpable that they have a "cult-like" following. His most popular Apple marketing example is as follows. If Apple were like most companies, they would market their products from the outside-in. It would start with a statement of what they do or make, followed by how they think they are better, followed by some call to action:
However, Apple is not like most companies and they actually market their products from the inside out. They start with their why:
The second message is completely different, it actually "feels" different to most people, including myself. I know which message resonates more with me, and I am not even an Apple guy. It’s a compelling example for sure. The Residuum (The Rest of the Book…)Utilizing a plethora of examples featuring companies like Microsoft, Southwest Airlines and Harley Davidson, Sinek devotes the remaining chapters of the book to further support and explain his Golden Circle approach. One particularly useful chapter, How Tipping Points Tip, provides an excellent overview of Everett M. Roger’s Law of Diffusion of Innovation and how starting with Why can help you attract those early adopters, those influencers:
And these are the people you want to help sway the majority, because the majority will not try something until someone else has tried it. I’d like to consider myself an early adopter (of certain things) but if I’m even considering something new, whether a product, service or career, a personal recommendation typically seals the deal for me. The VerdictStart With Why offers an unconventional perspective on why people do what they do. Sinek tells a very compelling story filled with logic, examples, some science and just plain ole’ common (but not widely practiced) sense. His Golden Circle approach can be put to use immediately and who knows, it just may change the way you do business. The book can be rather repetitive at times but as they say, Repetitio mater studiorum est - repetition is the mother of all learning. So tell me – why do you do what you do? If you can’t answer this question, then Start With Why is for you. The post Why You Should “Start With Why” appeared first on Small Business Trends.     |
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