Traditional knowledge management solutions are built based on a top-down process to control who views and shares content; social solutions grow from the bottom-up. Experts emerge based on their contributions, content is shared openly, and people group themselves based on ideas and passions.

Well, what if you could combine the best practices of both knowledge management and social networks to bridge the gap?

Jen Grant, Vice President of Marketing at Box.net, joins host Anita Campbell and co-host Brent Leary, to discuss how social content management can bridge that gap - to connect employees and inspire ideas while still providing control and structure to how content is stored and managed.

Below are the questions we asked Jen in this episode:

• (4:09) First Jen, can you tell us a bit more about yourself and your background?

• (6:24) Can you tell us a little about Box.net?

• (7:58) How are people and businesses using Box.net today? Can you give us some examples?

• (10:00) So the company did away with a file server and is actually using Box.net for that purpose?

• (11:01) What are the real advantages for small businesses using Box.net?

• (13:58) So, what would you say is the one thing that is really compelling about the value proposition at Box.net?

• (18:30) Box.net has become more social - can you talk about that a bit?

• (21:30) Are you seeing a lot more different kinds of content being uploaded?

• (22:24) What other sites are you working with where people can consume the content of Box.net?

• (24:39) Can you talk about the other services that you think may be really interesting from a small business perspective?

• (28:02) Jen, where can people find out more on the web?

Listen to Jen’s full interview now by clicking the red and yellow player below.

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 Cloud-Based Social Content Mgmt Bridges Gap For SMB [29:19m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

By Staci Wood | Comments (2) | Permalink

Green technology is an excellent investment to make right now and you don’t have to be an industry leader to explore green territories. Small businesses can do it too - and many of them actually are.

Craig Bramscher, CEO of Brammo, joins host Anita Campbell and co-host Brent Leary, to share his ideas on how, by using green technologies, Brammo may have found the secret to a thriving small business - and maybe even saving the planet.

Below are the questions we asked Craig in this episode:

• (4:20) First Craig, can you tell us a bit more about yourself and your background?

• (8:47) When it comes to green technologies and new products - what do you think is the biggest challenge for a small business to overcome to launch a new green product or technology in this current marketplace?

• (11:10) Did you invent the electric motorcycle industry and if not, what have you done that’s different?

• (12:52) How “green” is the production of the bike itself?

• (14:54) You have partnered with Best Buy - how and why did you decide to partner with Best Buy? Can you tell us a bit about that?

• (23:06) What are some of the benefits of using “green” technology and what are the benefits that small businesses, in particular, can see?

• (24:39) How do you get people to see the long term investment that comes into fruition?

• (25:38) What piece of advice would you give to other startups looking to launch during this current economy?

• (27:24) Craig, where can people find out more on the web?

Listen to Craig’s full interview now by clicking the red and yellow player below.

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Infusionsoft.com

 

 Small Business Thrives by Investing in Green Technology [29:11m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

By Staci Wood | Comments (4) | Permalink

Time is money - and it’s important that you spend YOUR time wisely. But many small business owners soon find themselves at a loss for time.

Luther Lowe, Manager of Local Business Outreach for Yelp, joins host Steve Rucinski, to share the many tools small business owners have at their disposal on Yelp to put your business’s best foot forward - all while managing your time and your online presence wisely.

Below are the questions we asked Luther in this episode:

• (1:14) First Luther, can you tell us a bit more about yourself and your background?

• (2:07) Tell us a bit about Yelp?

• (4:26) What makes Yelp different than other review sites?

• (5:41) How many different review contributors have their been?

• (6:52) Are there different categories of things that are reviewed or available?

• (8:50) What protects business owners from attacks on their reputations by trolls and competitors?

• (11:10) Do business owners have a voice on Yelp? Do they have the ability to respond to reviews?

• (13:54) Are the reviews purely contextual?

• (17:54) How can Yelp be used to help a B2B business, namely, an eCommerce Business?

• (20:57) Why should business owners care about their reviews?

• (23:02) Is there a way to promote coupons or special sales on Yelp?

• (24:02) Should business owners solicit reviews from their customers?

• (25:15) Do the reviews age? Is there a time limit for how long the review remains or is archived?

• (27:10) What is the single most important thing a business owner should know about Yelp?

Listen to Luther’s full interview now by clicking the red and yellow player below.

Brought to you by our sponsor:

Infusionsoft.com

 

 How Yelp Helps Small Business Owners Manage Their Online Presence [29:25m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

By Staci Wood | Comments (2) | Permalink

Wouldn’t it be nice if you could somehow retarget your customers and bring them right back to your door? Imagine this . . . it’d be like going out onto the street, grabbing someone whose just left your shop by the shoulders and turning them around to walk right into the front door of your business again.

It’s nice to dream, isn’t it?

Arjun Dev Arora, Founder of ReTargeter, joins host Anita Campbell and co-host Brent Leary, to share strategies to increase your businesses sales, bolster your brand - and bring your customers right back to you.

Below are the questions we asked Arjun in this episode:

• (1:50) First Arjun, can you tell us a bit more about yourself and your background?

• (3:16) Can you tell us a bit about what ReTargeter does? What does it help small businesses do?

• (4:17) So, someone comes to my site and they have left, but this technology is going to follow them, find them and the ad will appear to bring them back, correct?

• (4:55) If I want to place that kind of advertising, what do I have to do? Are there special requirements?

• (5:34) Is there something I have to do technically on my site so that the ads would display on the other sites specifically?

• (6:20) Does it ever surprise anybody that the ads appear as a result of visiting another site earlier?

• (7:06) Is this changing the way advertising is being done, what is the impact or is this just business as usual?

• (8:15) Give us an example of the kinds of companies using ReTargeter and what it is about the service that has caught their interest?

• (9:13) Do you have a case study you can talk about or a specific small business customer example that gives an idea of the real value received?

• (11:07) How has your experience at Yahoo! played into this experience?

• (12:16) Did your experience working with Yahoo! hold you in good sted when it came to finding investors or was that mostly learned from the “school of hard knocks?”

• (13:20) How old is ReTargeter?

• (16:53) What is the cost to use ReTargeter?

• (17:36) How does ReTargeter compare to Google Adwords, Yahoo! Search Marketing and others?

• (18:36) Is the cost still the same flat fee regardless of the number of customers coming through?

• (19:46) Do you help pull the entire campaign together for the customer?

• (20:17) What are some of the expectations a company should have when they begin to use this service?

• (21:31) Does the service come with analysis tools to help the customer see how they’re doing?

• (22:08) Are there any particular businesses that may see a quicker “bang for their buck” from this service?

• (23:35) How many publishing partners do you currently have?

• (23:53) Where are you taking this service in the future?

• (24:40) Arjun, where can people find out more on the web?

• (25:03) Does the blog give timely information about the service?

Listen to Arjun’s full interview now by clicking the red and yellow player below.

Brought to you by our sponsor:

Infusionsoft.com

 

 Retarget Your Customers Creatively: Bring Them Back! [27:24m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

By Staci Wood | Comments (9) | Permalink

If your competitors begin making negative attacks against your small business, do you have the resources necessary to stop the damage? Sometimes, as small business owners, we hate to admit it but it happens.

Competitors conduct smear campaigns and they can have damaging effects on your reputation, your credibility and most of all - your business.

Jay Bean, CEO of OrangeSoda, joins host Steve Rucinski to offer advice for business owners on how to successfully deal with negative competitor campaigns intended to discredit your business.

Below are the questions we asked Jay in this episode:

• (1:20) First Jay, can you tell us a bit more about yourself and your background?

• (2:11) How would you define an attack by a competitor?

• (3:27) Do have any examples of attacks you’ve faced in your own businesses?

• (5:01) Why do you think someone would put so much effort into it?

• (5:51) Do you feel there is ever any justifiable reason to attack your competition or put a competitor in a bad light?

• (6:37) It seems that there are more outlets now, more than ever actually, to conduct an attack, true or false?

• (8:35) Is there anything can you do to safeguard your business against a competitive attack before it happens?

• (10:21) Can you give us a little bit of information about OrangeSoda?

• (13:39) Your company specializes in SEO for small businesses; can you explain how an effective SEO campaign can help prevent competitive attacks?

• (16:16) Should you address the attack head on and discuss it on your site pages?

• (18:09) If it’s a blatant attack that could be damaging to your business, what are some things you would recommend a small business do to stop the attack in its tracks and limit the damage?

• (20:47) Do you ever recommend reach out to the competitor directly?

• (21:52) Can SEO help clean up the aftermath of an attack?

• (24:57) What are the 3 key tips to manage an attach that you would give to a small business?

• (26:23) What is the greatest lesson you’ve learned that you could share with others?

• (28:23) Jay, where can people find out more on the web?

Listen to Jay’s full interview now by clicking the red and yellow player below.

Brought to you by our sponsor:

Infusionsoft.com

 

 Fending Off Competitor Smear Campaigns [29:30m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

By Staci Wood | Comments (10) | Permalink