Beta Your Small Business Innovations

One of the trends that has emerged in recent years is the concept of beta testing new product and service developments before they are ready for prime time.  Software and technology companies in particular focus on intensive development efforts in order to release their latest technologies on a timely basis. You can do the same. […]

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High School Reunions – The Ultimate Social Meet-Up

This past weekend I attended my high school reunion.  Naturally, the conversation often drifted to Facebook – who is using it and those that still refuse to embrace this social platform. I walked away from this experience realizing that high school reunions may well be the model for social community meet-ups. Social Meet-Ups If you […]

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Social Engagement Works

We all know that engagement is the key to success with social media.  Now consider translating that to your work off of the social networks. This year I selected three words as reminders for driving my business.  These three words are:  Strong, People, and Energy. What I have discovered is that taking a little more […]

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Social Media Emotions

Given that social media networking and marketing is largely a human experience, it is logical that one can use it to tap into those common human emotions that we all share, which naturally includes needs and wants, and everything that is associated with them. Next week I'll be presenting a social media program to an […]

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Small Business Lessons from the BP Flap

Click image to enlarge. The fiasco involving British Petroleum's response to the unfortunate oil rig accident – and the catastrophic environmental impact that followed, is a case study that all of us can learn from.  And we should learn from it, because accidents can and do occur every day in many different industries – involving […]

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You Cannot Be a Little Bit Social

Does social media take an investment in time?  Absolutely.  I am often asked how much time is required.  The answer I would like to give is …as much as you can give it.  Though I know that's not what most people want to hear. What Do You Really Want to Know? The truth is if […]

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The Social Media Convergence Strategy

If you are going to achieve results for your small business with your social media networking and marketing, there is one thing that you have know. This is not a linear game where you can expect results by following a predictable formula.  Nevertheless, there is some predictability in its apparent randomness that you can take […]

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Real-Time Social Media Search Analytics

SocialMention is a a real-time search platform that can help you to monitor your small business brand or personal online presence so that you make them even better. Click to Enlarge Real-Time Search I've previously commented on Collecta and Topsy for doing real-time search.  What I like about SocialMention is that it not only provides […]

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Blog Banner Blues

If you are familiar with my two-year old banner, you can see that I'm livin' large these days!  Living Large My new blog banner is definitely out of scale, but we decided to load this version up to get a look at it in its native environment. What I have come to learn is that […]

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Social Media Video Behind the Scenes

What can distinguish your small business is probably something that you do ever day in your business, and probably have fun doing it – but that most of your customers, and none of your prospects ever see. Behind The Curtain What is it?  That's for you to determine.  But I am going to suggest that […]

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