Small Business Trends Radio | Small Business Advice

Small Business Summit 2010

Staci Wood — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 20:54:58 +0000

Prime Strategies and Small Biz Technology just announced their Fifth Annual Small Business Summit 2010, taking place on March 16, 2010 in New York City. The theme for this event gathering is Business & Technology: Strategies for the New Economy.

Since the first Summit 5 years ago, this event has attracted a loyal following of small and medium size businesses, technology providers, sponsors and media and Seth Godin headlines this year’s agenda, sharing his “Insights on Being Indispensable to Your Customers.” Marian Banker and Ramon Ray, Summit Co-Producers, join Anita Campbell and Brent Leary to share more of the details on this exciting upcoming event.

Below are the questions we asked Marian and Ramon:

(2:49) First Marian, can you tell us a bit about yourself and your background?
(3:47) Ramon, can you tell us a bit about yourself and your background as well?
(5:03) Marian, what was the overriding point that compelled you to start the Small Business Summit with Ramon?
(6:39) Ramon, tell us how the progression was to grow the summit. What was that first year like?
(8:21) Is that your recollection of it from last year, Brent?
(8:49) What do you have in store for us this year, Marian? Any surprises?
(10:25) Ramon, what are the highlights?
(12:12) How many people are you expecting this year?
(14:24) Marian, what are some new things that people can expect at this year’s summit?
(16:20) Can you give a list of the sponsors, both new and returning?
(18:32) How is registration going and where can people go online and register to attend?
(20:51) Ramon, what would you like people to come away with from the 2010 Small Business Summit this year?
(21:41) Marian, 2009 was a tough year for small business and 2010 is equally tough. What do you hope that the folks that attend the 2010 Small Business Summit to feel as they participate in this event, considering this economy is still tough?
(22:48) Ramon, what is the most surprising aspect of the summit from the organizer’s perspective?
(23:50) Anita, since you’ve been involved in several of the Small Business Summit’s, what is the most surprising thing you’ve noticed from the event?
(25:21) Marian, how important is networking to an event like the 2010 Small Business Summit?
(26:38) Ramon, where can people go to learn more?
(27:45) Are there going to be a lot of people tweeting so those that aren’t in attendance can stay abreast of what’s going on at the event?
(28:40) Brent, what is the music that you’ve chosen to open this year’s summit?

Wait, there’s even more good news! There are $99 tickets available to the first 50 people who register for the 2010 Small Business Summit using the discount code SMBTRENDS2010. Don’t miss out on this 50% savings – be sure to register and get your ticket for half price now!

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Improve Your Business by Improving Yourself

Staci Wood — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 18:54:37 +0000

As a young man, Larry’s Janesky’s entrepreneurial journey began right out of high school when he started a carpentry business. Larry’s journey eventually lead him to become the owner of a multi-national company with 27 patents that revolutionized the industry.

Larry’s entrepreneurial journey continues and today he is the Founder and CEO of the largest basement waterproofing and crawl space repair dealer network in the world, Basement Systems. He shares the universal lessons learned along the way, which he has applied to 5 other businesses with the same results.

Larry believes that if you improve yourself, your business will improve.

Below are the questions we asked Larry:

(2:50) First, can you tell us about yourself and your background?
(5:43) Can you tell us about some of the high points and the low points in your entrepreneurial journey so far?
(7:58) As an entrepreneur, what is it about your advice that makes it worth listening to?
(10:19) What would you say is the one single most important theme you’ve discovered?
(11:43) What’s one concrete example of the business leader’s way of thinking making a difference?
(13:30) How do you go about developing a vision as a business owner? Can you give us an example of what a clear vision might sound like for a business?
(15:06) So be detailed and clear and fill it out in your head?
(17:10) What inspires you?
(18:29) How does that inspiration help you to overcome the obstacles you’ve faced?
(20:13) Is it easy to develop a desire to succeed or is that something that you’re born with?
(22:12) Can you tell us about your blogs?
(23:23) How has the impact of writing these blogs changed the way you look at business or helped your approach to business?
(24:08) Are you putting out a new book?
(26:03) Are there autobiographical overtones in the book, perhaps?
(27:01) Where can people get the book?
(27:46) What is your overall definition of success?
(28:27) Larry, where can people find out more?

For more information on Larry Janesky and Basement Systems you can read, “How One Entrepreneur Grew Sales to $50 Million in a Mundane Industry.”

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What To Do When You Don’t Like Your Boss

Staci Wood — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 19:05:14 +0000

We’ve all suffered through employment for employers that we didn’t necessarily like – or enjoy working for. If you are currently in that situation, or have been at some point in time, you’ve come to realize that everybody copes with that atmosphere in a different way. Some are healthy ways to cope and some are not.

Katherine Crowley and Kathi Elster, Authors of “Working for You Isn’t Working for Me,” joins hosts Anita Campbell to show you how to take back some control and learn to manage your boss and yourself by applying their four-step process.

PLEASE NOTE: Due to technical issues with our broadcasting company, BlogTalkRadio.com, there is a silence and delay at the beginning of the recording. Just keep listening – the show will start — we promise!

Below are the questions we asked Katherine and Kathi:

(2:33) First, can you tell us about yourself and your background?
(3:32) Did that lead you directly to writing the book or was that something that happened in between?
(7:08) Katherine, what kind of situations do people encounter with bosses?
(7:46) Some people like to be left alone at work, so why an absentee boss such a problem then?
(9:07) What kinds of bosses are there and who is the most difficult to work with?
(10:30) What other types are difficult to work with?
(13:43) How do people cope with bad bosses? What can you do about it?
(16:44) What should you do, instead of these negative coping mechanisms, to deal with a bad boss?
(18:32) What can you do, physically, to calm down?
(20:30) What does the four step process involve?
(23:20) Let’s say you work for someone who is younger than you are. What is the challenge in that situation?
(24:36) Are there any final thoughts each of you would like to leave our listeners with before we close?
(26:40) Katherine and Kathi, where can people find out more?

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Top 10 Publicity Tools For a Dollar or Less

Staci Wood — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 13:31:44 +0000

Visibility is important to your small business and affordable publicity is out there. There are many tools that can help you grow your business and expand its visibility today. However, researching to discover those publicity tools can be a drain on your time - which may actually hinder your small business.

Margie Zable Fisher, President of Zable Fisher Public Relations, joins hosts Anita Campbell and Brent Leary to share her top 10 publicity tools that cost $1 or less. Margie also explains how to maximize your success in using them and she’s done the “dirty work” of uncovering these valuable publicity tools for you.

So, get ready to take advantage of these tools to help your small business gain visibility and grow to its full potential.

Below are the questions we asked Margie:

(1:40) First Margie, can you tell us a bit more about yourself and your background regarding public relations?
(6:16) Can you walk us through these tools and give the best ways to leverage them? What are the professionals’ secrets?
(13:25) Is there one more tip you’d like to add about Help a Reporter?
(14:01) I see you reference Contact Any Celebrity, tell us about that a bit?
(15:39) What is The Gift List about, Margie?
(16:52) Let’s move on to your next tip called “Contacts on Tap.” What’s that about?
(17:57) Let’s do one more before we go to the break. This one intrigues me. “Chases Calendar” – what is that?
(21:28) Let’s make sure we get through all 10 tips. Can you talk about EzineArticles a bit?
(22:41) How do you actually make number seven happen?
(24:24) How do you go about winning an award?
(25:25) Number nine is “create profiles and use free social media tools,” can you discuss the importance of that?
(25:54) Number ten “set up and write posts on a free WordPress blog platform,” can you tell us about that?
(26:41) What’s the best way for people to get started with these tools?
(27:29) Margie, where can people find out more about your business?

Download Margie’s “Top 10 Publicity Tools For a Dollar or Less” PDF now or visit Small Business Trends where Margie wrote about her “Top 10 Publicity Tools”

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Unlocking Cash and Profits Hidden in Financial Statements

Staci Wood — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 14:23:00 +0000

I think I can speak for everyone here and say – we’d all like to unlock hidden cash and profits. And Kenneth Kaufman is going to help us find it.

Kenneth Kaufman, Founder & CEO of CFOwise, joins hosts Anita Campbell to share the insights he has gained from helping entrepreneurs and small business owners use their monthly financial statements – to drive cash flow and profitability by unlocking hidden finances.

So, are you ready to unlock hidden cash and profits in YOUR financial statements? Why not get started now?

Below are the questions we asked Ken:

(2:21) First Ken, can you tell us a bit more about yourself and CFOWise?
(4:28) What are the financial statements that small business owners should be looking at? I assume the profit and loss statement is one of them?
(6:30) Let me ask you about the balance sheet. Is it of less value to small businesses? How important do you think the balance sheet is to the typical small business?
(8:20) What are the issues causing some small business owners to neglect looking at these financial statements in an accurate form or on a timely basis?
(11:03) Where are the most common places to find this “hidden cash” in a small business?
(13:50) How do you then use that financial statement to find hidden cash flow?
(20:45) How can you find hidden profits? Where do you look for that in your financials?
(22:07) How many small business owners do you think can quote that growth profit number immediately?
(23:10) Do you start looking at your expense line or your top line – or both?
(24:49) Are there any other obvious places to look?
(26:28) Can you outline some of the key financial ratios and averages that a small business owner should be keeping track of?
(29:20) Can you tell us about the free industry report you are offering our listeners and how they can maximize this report when they receive it?

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Social CRM: Make Information Find and Work for You

Staci Wood — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 18:03:38 +0000

Not only is social media useful to small businesses for marketing, but it’s also a handy tool to use to develop a more personal relationship with your customers and business contacts. It allows you to obtain bits and pieces of personal knowledge about others and you can then use that knowledge to build upon an existing relationship with them. Perhaps you saw a Tweet from a client about their dog named Spot. The next time you speak with that client, you can mention their dog, Spot, and make the experience more meaningful for them.

Those are the kind of details that turn leads into sales experiences that customers come back for.

Larry Ritter, Senior Vice President and General Manager of Sage CRM Solutions, joins hosts Anita Campbell and Brent Leary to discuss how small businesses can work together to deliver actionable customer and prospect details.

Below are the questions we asked Larry:

(2:09) First Larry, can you tell us a bit more about yourself and your background? How did you come to be at Sage CRM Solutions?
(3:04) Can you tell us the basics about the company? What does Sage CRM Solutions do and who do you serve?
(4:14) How does Sage CRM Solutions define a small business?
(5:42) Social media is a topic people can’t get enough of. What do you think social media really means for the small business user, Larry?
(6:39) What are some things that small businesses can be doing right now in this economy to sell better? What tools should they be using?
(7:52) Is that what is meant by the term “Social CRM?”
(9:36) What technology or automation trends are you seeing for small businesses in how they market to their prospects and established customers?
(13:34) How has communication within Sage’s ACT! community had an impact on what you view as their needs and wants from Sage CRM Solutions?
(15:13) How did the ACT! community affect and impact the upgrades in the release of ACT! 2010?
(16:36) If you were talking to a small business considering CRM, what things would you tell them to let them know that they should be making an investment in it?
(17:56) How has the integration of social media networking changed traditional CRM?
(19:20) When it comes to contact management versus CRM, what are the differences that a small business should know of?
(20:57) What are some ways that a small business can determine the best implementation method?
(22:27) Compare and contrast for a moment - is traditional CRM on it’s way out or are the new technologies working well together?
(24:55) Where does mobility fit into CRM and how companies are interacting with their customers?
(26:11) Where does implementing a CRM application stand – regarding resources and money required for startup?
(27:55) Larry, where can people find out more on the web?

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Long Tail SEO: Get Fast Traction With Google

Staci Wood — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 18:14:39 +0000

Many small business owners do not know what effective keywords to target or how to effectively target them with link building. The the importance of “long tail” SEO to small businesses is often overlooked.

Case in point: A used book store owner might aspire to rank on the first page of Google for the keyword phrase “used books.” While this phrase is searched thousands of times each month, it’s also massively competitive and won’t drive very qualified traffic. A series of “long tail” keywords that are less competitive and drive very qualified traffic would be much more effective.

Tom McConnon, Product Manager of LotusJump, joins hosts Anita Campbell to share “long tail” keyword research and SEO tips that every small business owner can benefit from.

Below are the questions we asked Tom in this episode:

(3:04) First Tom, can you tell us a bit more about yourself and your background?
(4:50) What can someone actually use LotusJump for?
(6:38) Explain with a concrete example how SEO can really help a small business?
(7:57) What is “long tail SEO” and where did this phrase come from?
(10:20) If you’re picking keywords, what kind of tools do you have at your disposal? What can you do to expand that list?
(15:19) The more detailed the search request, the closer you are to finding exactly what you’re looking for, correct?
(19:18) I have noticed that when you do a blog post, you may get a good position from keywords in the title. But over time, you loose that position due to algorithm changes. Do you find that to be true?
(23:51) What are some good link building tips and resources for a “long tail SEO” strategy?
(30:51) Can you give us a quick summary of your tips today?
(32:26) Tom, where can people find out more on the web?

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Buying Commercial Property: The SBA 504 Loan

Staci Wood — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 18:47:11 +0000

Are you in the market for a new piece of commercial real estate for your new or existing small business? If so, you’ve found the right place to find information – and possibly the right loan product, too.

Chris Hurn, CEO and Co-Founder of Mercantile Capital Corporation, joins hosts Anita Campbell and Brent Leary to explain why the SBA 504 Loan Program has several advantages over ordinary, conventional loans for small business owners buying commercial real estate.

Below are the questions we asked Chris in this episode:

(1:35) First Chris, can you tell us a bit more about yourself and your background?
(2:33) Do you specialize in SBA loans?
(3:31) Can you demystify what the SBA 504 Loan Program is?
(5:06) What are the advantages of the 504 loan?
(7:40) Tell us a little bit more about some of these advantages such as smaller monthly payments and the impact on cash flow?
(10:15) What is the environment like for small business loans out there? What have we just come through and has anything changed today since last September or October?
(16:34) I have read that in order to get an SBA loan, you have to prove that you could not get a conventional loan. Is that true?
(18:33) Is there any kind of balloon payment required if you go through the SBA 504 loan process?
(20:33) Can you talk about the loan process?
(25:36) How can the 504 loan affect the future sale of property financed by it?
(27:01) Are certain types of commercial properties more appealing to small businesses than others?
(29:25) Chris, where can people find out more on the web?

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Profitably Using Website Video and Videomail

Staci Wood — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 18:30:31 +0000

Video can be useful to small businesses on many different levels and in many different ways. Not only can it be used to attract website visitors, but it can also be very effective in communicating tasks, training employees and distributing information to your workforce – to name just a few.

Ruth King, Founder and Chief Evangelist of Ribbon has been using Internet video to train, communicate, and inform since 1998. Ruth, a very early web pioneer, joins Anita Campbell and Steve Rucinski to explain how small businesses can use the power of video to attract and retain website visitors as well as communicate company messages through video mail.

Below are the questions we asked Ruth in this episode:

(2:02) First Ruth, can you tell us a bit more about yourself and your background?
(3:21) Can you explain, for listeners who may not already know . . . what exactly is video mail and what do you need to use it?”
(3:43) Is video mail a practical solution for small businesses?
(4:43) Can you demystify video on the web? Which format should you use – and when should you use it?
(6:29) So is a YouTube video streaming video or flash?
(7:10) Can you tell us how a small business owner might go about creating a video for their website or training purposes? What’s involved and what’s the easiest way to do that?
(9:34) Is the Flip Camera a good beginner video camera?
(10:42) What are some of the considerations you should have prior to putting video on your website?
(11:30) What else should be considered?
(12:45) So in other words, you do a video of a customer testimonial and then turn it into a short video email?
(13:25) So your not sending the video file in the email, your sending an email with a link to the video, correct?
(14:09) Has anyone expressed concerns about getting a video link in an email?
(14:26) In that case, should you have some verbiage in the email as well?
(14:55) When it comes to placing a video on your website, where do you recommend someone should actually put it?
(19:25) Ruth, you mentioned a 30 second time length is the optimum time, is that correct?
(20:14) So it opens a new browser window?
(20:25) Should a small business make use of You Tube? Are there advantages or disadvantages to doing so?
(21:52) Tell us what Ribbon does?
(22:49) Can you tell us how a live video from a website works?
(24:03) So it’s “webinar like” but it’s video?
(25:14) How do you prepare to do live broadcasts from your website? Is there a checklist of sorts that you should run through first?
(26:53) Are there tools and interactive functions that you can use?
(27:11) When it comes to a website video, do you think shorter videos are more effective? Is there a certain time length to stick to?
(28:26) Ruth, where can people find out more on the web?

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How to Turn the Story of Your Brand Into a Classic

Staci Wood — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 18:13:00 +0000

It’s a well-known fact that our emotions come into play when we make decisions. As a result, engaging and authentic stories can actually inspire customers to “fall in love” with you.

I don’t know about you – but I love a great story. I especially love to hear entrepreneurial success stories. You know. . . those stories about the tiny beginnings in someone’s basement or at someone’s kitchen table that ultimately lead to great success. There’s nothing more captivating than a really great story.

Leah Komaiko, Founder of LeahKomaiko.com and author of 19 books, talks with host Anita Campbell and co-host Brent Leary about the value of stories. Leah teaches you how YOU can turn YOUR story – into the type that becomes a classic.

Below are the questions we asked Leah in this episode:

(2:40) First Leah, can you tell us a bit more about yourself and your background?
(4:41) How is your brand story different than the “About Us” section on your website or bio?
(7:41) Can you tell us about being a “recovering comedian?”
(10:24) What is it that really moves people in a story? What’s the magic formula?
(13:03) If I were setting out to turn my story into a classic, what is it that I should be focusing on first?
(18:56) How can we find our “Gettysburg Address” for people? Can it be short and sweet or long and lasting?
(21:55) How can you go about finding your story and telling it in a compelling way to make people react to it?
(23:26) How can you use fictional characters properly to get your story across?
(26:04) I’m curious and I’m sure others are by now, too, so tell us. . . what’s Leah’s story? If you could equate it to a book, what would that book be?
(29:31) Leah, where can people find out more on the web?

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Tips For The Self Employed On Health Insurance

Staci Wood — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 20:12:57 +0000

Affordable health insurance is hard to find these days and sadly, as a result, many are forced to go without it. Finding affordable health insurance that provides for the needs of your family is a difficult task and it usually brings up a myriad of questions – because health insurance coverage can get pretty complex.

Sam Gibbs, Senior Vice President of eHeathInsurance, has a keen understanding of the shifts in how people search for and buy health insurance and is skilled at explaining the complexities of health insurance to consumers. Sam joins host, Anita Campbell and co-host Steve Rucinski, for an in-depth discussion on cost effective, affordable health insurance options for small business owners and the self-employed.

Below are the questions we asked Sam in this episode:

(2:00) First Sam, can you tell us a bit more about yourself and your background?
(3:44) Is it important to have health insurace? Why not go bare?
(4:58) If you’re self-employed, can you deduct health insurance premiums from your federal income taxes?
(6:33) Can you talk about what is taxed vs. what is deductible?
(7:49) How do you approach the health insurance issue to find the best deals possible?
(10:51) What is COBRA and the COBRA subsidy?
(13:12) Are there any particular carriers that are good for the self-employed to approach? Or ones to stay away from? Or doesn’t it really break down that way?
(14:56) What is eHeathInsurance.com and how does it compare with telephoning your local insurance agent?
(19:21) Is there an advantage to getting a higher deductible?
(20:56) Who sets up an HSA (Health Savings Account)?
(21:51) What if someone has a pre-existing condition – can they still get health insurance?
(23:47) If I shop online for health insurance how can I protect my private information?
(24:48) What can a small business owner or self employed person expect to pay for health insurance?
(25:54) What makes for such variables between cost state to state?
(27:06) What advice can you provide to small business owners with employees?
(28:24) Sam, where can people find out more on the web?

FOR MORE: READ THE SHOW TRANSCRIPT.

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What is Your Web Site Worth?

Staci Wood — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 18:01:31 +0000

We’re pretty sure that many of you have probably asked yourself, “I wonder how much is my web site worth?” It’s exciting to think that a site you lovingly created and maintained could possibly be of real value and worth.

So, are you ready to find out how much your web site is worth? Of course you are!

Debra Matthews, Senior Internet Business Broker at Quiet Light Brokerage, joins host, Anita Campbell and co-host Brent Leary, to discuss how sites are currently valued, how the marketplace is currently reacting to web businesses for sale, what things a web business owner can do to increase their value – and the common mistakes web business owners make when it’s time to sell their business.

Below are the questions we asked Debra in this episode:

(2:58) First Debra, can you tell us a bit more about yourself and your background?
(4:21) Can you tell us a bit about Quiet Light Brokerage and how the name was chosen?
(5:30) Are there any standards or rules of thumb that are generally applied or can be applied to web site valuations?
(6:46) Can you tell us what factors should be considered in a valuation for asking price or maybe for an evaluation for a buyer when trying to figure out what to offer?
(9:00) Can you give us a couple of examples of those types of web sites?
(11:01) If you have a trademark on your logo and a couple of design elements relating to the site, does that add a lot of value or just something additional?
(11:46) How has the current economic climate affected the purchase and sale of small business web sites?
(12:43) If sellers are asked to carry financing, what is the typical response?
(17:17) What are the most common mistakes you see sellers make when it comes time for them to sell?
(18:13) What process should they walk through to make sure they get the best deal they can get?
(19:17) Can you use a free service to supply the traffic data for the site?
(20:43) What particular parts of traffic measurements are most important?
(21:57) How much of that type of traffic data should you have and for how long?
(23:14) What should a buyer be on the lookout for?
(24:34) What are a couple of top things that should be on that evaluation list?
(25:32) What can you do to make your site as attractive as possible for potential buyers once it’s actively listed?
(26:59) Do you have any other advice on valuations or where to get one?
(28:28) Debra, where can people find out more on the web?

You can use Debra’s Profit and Loss Spreadsheet template to start keeping your records up to date.

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Expanding Your Reach: Syndication Solutions

Staci Wood — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 14:20:34 +0000

As small business owners, we all know that marketing tools can be real lifesavers. Making yourself and your business available online these days is a must to any small business owner. Your customers need to be able to reach you, they want to see you – and you want them to return to you.

A great way to have the best of both worlds is to build a community; a virtual online community – where people can connect, share, stay up-to-date and contact you freely.

Adam Boyden, president of Conduit, joins host, Anita Campbell, to discuss Conduit’s free syndication solution which enables businesses of any size to better reach their customers through content syndication, RSS, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and more.

Below are the questions we asked Adam in this episode:

(2:16) First Adam, can you tell us a bit more about yourself and your background?
(3:09) How did you come to start Conduit?
(4:24) Tell us a bit more about Conduit. I know there’s a downloadable toolbar. Can you tell us how that fits in for small businesses?
(6:07) We revealed that Conduit has 180,000 small business customers. How many customers does Conduit have total?
(6:40) Are there any names we would recognize using Conduit that you can tell us about and give some examples of how they’re using it?
(9:17) What is Conduit’s business model? Is it free? Is there an upgraded version?
(10:08) How much time does it take a small business to get a toolbar up and running? What kind of skills and technical knowledge do you need?
(12:38) So let me be clear, Internet Explorer, FireFox and Safari are the three browsers that you support?
(13:30) What does Conduit really do for your small business? How can small businesses benefit from your services?
(16:15) What is in it for the visitor to make them want to download the toolbar? What are they getting out of it?
(20:09) I understand that you just announced the Conduit OPEN standard. What is it and what does it mean for small businesses?
(24:30) I understand that you also introduced the Conduit Marketplace – can you talk a bit about that?
(25:24) How do small businesses know that your services are helping them? Are there analytics services?
(27:28) Adam, where can people find out more on the web?

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Cloud-Based Social Content Mgmt Bridges Gap For SMB

Staci Wood — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 19:10:20 +0000

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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Yelp Helps SMB Owners Manage Their Online Presence

Staci Wood — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 19:33:41 +0000

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.

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Retarget Your Customers Creatively: Bring Them Back!

Staci Wood — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 21:17:16 +0000

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.

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Fending Off Competitor Smear Campaigns

Staci Wood — Tue, 26 May 2009 19:12:17 +0000

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.

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How To Use PayPal To Drive Sales

Staci Wood — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 19:03:37 +0000

Small businesses are consistently looking for opportunities to monetize their business and grow sales. Just by adding PayPal, many small businesses are realizing incremental revenue from higher conversion rates up to 14%. With PayPal, small businesses can accept payments instantly and gain access to millions of online shoppers.

Even better – they can do all of this while making the checkout experience easier for the consumer.

Eddie Davis, Senior Director of SMB Merchant Services at PayPal, joins host Anita Campbell along with co-host Joel Libava, for an open discussion about the benefits of using PayPal and how small businesses are successfully driving sales with it.

Below are the questions we asked Eddie in this episode:

(1:58) First Eddie, can you tell us a bit more about yourself and your background?

(3:26) What is PayPal?

(5:14) How does PayPal help small businesses increase their sales?

(10:03) Where does that number of a 14% conversion rate come from?

(11:29) How much does it cost a merchant to accept PayPal? What is the cost per transaction?

(12:46) Twitter community question: What is mass pay?

(14:21) How can PayPal help small businesses sell globally?

(17:43) Besides using PayPal, what else can SMB merchants do to expand their reach globally?

(19:14) How can my listeners set up a PayPal merchant account for their business?

(20:19) What about tips for tackling customer trust issues for an SMB merchant?

(22:20) Can you recommend some best practices for brick-and-mortar small businesses who want to have an ecommerce presence as well?

(24:15) Twitter community question: Why is there a $5,000 limit on transactions?

(25:14) Can you discuss any particular customer success stories?

(27:15) Does PayPal have an international information site for global selling?

(28:39) Eddie, where can people find out more on the web?

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

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Big Boy Negotiation Tips For Little Players

Staci Wood — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 00:02:03 +0000

There are literally dozens of traps associated with small business owners entering into negotiations with “big players.” But let’s face it, these days there are many small business owners and entrepreneurs being approached by large companies. So how can you know when to decline entering into negotiations? How can you defeat the common negotiating strategies used by big players to win concessions from small business owners?

David Wanetick, Managing Director of IncreMental Advantage, is our featured guest in this Episode of The Small Business Trends Radio. David will share tips and tactics to defeat the strategies used by the “big boys” against small companies to seduce them and he will explain how to successfully enter into negotiations with them.

Here’s a sampling from the show:

Common negotiating tactics — such as good cop, bad cop, limited authority and exploding offers will be used. One representative is agreeable while another is aggressive, the representative claims to not have the authority to make final decisions or the company begins to force tight deadline decisions to be made which is a sign of a large company in need – and also in a weak position.

Three reasons why entrepreneurs — do not make good negotiators are 1.) they are emotionally attached to their business and easily seduced 2.) they are not available to enter into lengthy negotiations that will monopolize all of their time 3.) they have full authority and do not have the benefit of input or foresight from others. Many are also likely to entertain each and every approach by a large company while sharing confidential, valuable information which can be damaging. You must safeguard your proprietary information against competitors and big boy “fishing expeditions” for information.

Seemingly off-hand remarks — during breaks can undermine your negotiating position or nix a deal. Such as stating that you were not able to bring necessary documentation because there was a recent incident with a roof leak.

Put your first offer — out on the table so as to maximize getting the price you want by making the initial opening offer and using the psychological tactic of “anchoring.” The higher the number initially spoken, the closer to it the closing price will be.

Think you’re ready to run with the “big dogs?” Ever heard of the Pygmalion effect? You can use it. Learn how by listening to David’s full interview by clicking the red and yellow player below.

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Crisis Communication – Before, During and After It Hits The Fan

Staci Wood — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 23:25:06 +0000

When a business is facing a crisis and has to answer to the media, there is little time to react effectively. The stress created by a crisis often limits rational thinking and can lead to costly mistakes and missteps. This is why it is essential for both large and small businesses to have a crisis management plan in place. Minimizing the damage from a crisis can prevent an unfortunate incident from blowing up into a full-scale public relations nightmare.

Glenn Ebersole, Chief Executive of the Renaissance Group, is our featured guest in this Episode of The Small Business Trends Radio. Glenn will share examples of successful responses and unsuccessful responses to crisis when dealing with the media.

Here’s a sampling from the show:

Some common public relations errors — that many businesses make when faced with a crisis are 1.) to not have a crisis management plan in place 2.) to not be easily accesible 3.) to fail to provide information that’s easily accesible to the media and 4.) to not maintain ongoing positive relationships with reporters, editors and target media.

When developing a crisis management plan — be sure to select and organize a crisis management team consisting of a spokesperson, legal counsel, someone with financial and operational background and possibly outside PR counsel that are available to respond immediately. When a crisis happens, you need to know who to contact first.

What can a small business do — to develop relationships with the media? For starters, you can develop a media kit including a one page description of your company and a contact listed. Connect with local reporters and read what they write, send them news and press releases, send them additional pieces of interest relating to topics they’ve written about previously and attend events where your local media may be present.

Following the suggestions above to develop healthy relations with the media will build credibility around you and your business and, in a sense, gives you third party endorsement. Being proactive and building a positive image with them will go a long way in the midst of a crisis for a positive public relations experience.

Do you have a crisis management plan in place? You can learn more by listening to Glenn’s full interview by clicking the red and yellow player below.

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