Home Wealth Project
Extensive Research On How To Build Wealth From The Comfort Of Your Own Home.
How Online Tools Helped a Family Farm Get New Business
Oct 19th
How can online tools help your small business get new customers? I experienced a real-life case study of this principle recently. Together with a few of our friends and family, my family went to Crumland Farms in Frederick, Maryland, recently and had a great experience and perfect weather. We used a combination of online tools to make the decision to visit Crumland Farms even though it was farther away than another nearby farm.
Here are the online tools we used to decide on visiting Crumland Farms:
Discovery: Daily Deals Email: We discovered this offer on Crumland Farms through a niche coupon site called Certifikid, which is a daily deals site that focuses on families and kids and a partner of Washington Parenting Magazine. Certifikids was a discovery by my wife, whom I consider more grounded in offline information than I am.
Validation: Business Website: The competition was a LivingSocial deal at a nearby farm which had fewer activities for kids than Crumland Farm. The moms went to the websites of both of the farms to take a look and compare activities and pictures.
Social Presence: Multimedia YouTube: We watched Crumland Farms’ YouTube channel to get a good idea of the activities and discovered that the farm also has a Twitter ID @crumlandfarms. They also have a Facebook page where I saw a recent post asking if food was available on the farm.
In the end, we were more comfortable with our decision to visit Crumland Farms because of the validation from its different online properties, the content that we saw, and the deal they placed on a niche site (which we got in an email).
What are the takeaways for other small business from our experience with this farm?
- Be easy to find online with a website
- Have good content, pictures and videos of your business online
- Try out niche daily deals sites
- Have a social presence
Are you a small business owner who has tried out niche daily deals sites? Or a consumer who used a deal recently to visit a small business? Either way, I’d love to hear from you. Please comment below.
How Online Tools Helped a Family Farm Get New Business
View full post on Small Business News, Tips, Advice – Small Business Trends
13 Tools to Help You Become a Master Marketer
Oct 11th
Last year, I spoke to author, Entrepreneur.com writer and social media expert Starr Hall. We discussed who the best people were to target and how to use all of my platforms and relationships to get the best coverage and promotion.
In talking about people to target, Starr said:
“Make sure they are master marketers.”
That really got me thinking about people in my networks who have a great brand, credentials and credibility, degrees and accomplishments–but aren’t engaged in their own self-marketing and promotion. They are not taking the lead on branding themselves through online communities, email marketing or at least a Facebook page.
In today’s business paradigm, combining the two worlds (in-person and online) and all of the platforms that afford us free access to people all over the world is a must. With so many solopreneurs, businesses of one, consultants, authors and trainers out there, being a master marketer is about the most important skill you can have in your toolbox as a businessperson today.
Here are 13 tools I have used to become a “master marketer.” These are proven ways to your build brand awareness and credibility and grow your relationships with your personal and professional communities.
- LinkedIn is the professional platform with unparalleled potential to introduce yourself to and interact with top people in your field or related fields.
- Facebook is the most diverse platform for engagement and interactivity.
- Twitter can be a “real time” communication tool.
- Blogging is the best way to build Klout and authority in your area of expertise.
- Email marketing can help you grow relationships with your permission-based community.
- Article writing, either on your own blog or for other key blogs and websites, builds your credibility.
- Texting used properly can also be a “real time” marketing tool.
- Video is the best way to show people your vibe, personality and how you present yourself.
- Workshops brand you as an expert in your field and also give you a platform to present yourself.
- Volunteering is the side door into many opportunities and align you with things you are passionate about.
- Networking online and in person can open up amazing opportunities with people all over the world or right in your community.
- Google+ is fast becoming another diverse tribe and community building platform.
- Blogtalkradio podcasting has opened more doors for me than just about any other platform.
All of these tools can greatly impact your brand awareness, sales, customer service, customer retention and your overall professional success and advancement. Many of these tools can be used in a very integrated way. You can start with a few key platforms and make them work for you, then add more as you get comfortable.
Hire a consultant, take a class, pay your kid to help you – but get going on making the commitment to become a master marketer for 2012!
Here are some “master marketers” Ad Age chose as great examples of this in action, who have built strong brands, consistent branding and big buzz. Who are some of the master marketers that you emulate?
Image from Ivan Montero Martinez/Shutterstock
13 Tools to Help You Become a Master Marketer
View full post on Small Business News, Tips, Advice – Small Business Trends
13 Tools to Help You Become a Master Marketer
Oct 11th
Last year, I spoke to author, Entrepreneur.com writer and social media expert Starr Hall. We discussed who the best people were to target and how to use all of my platforms and relationships to get the best coverage and promotion.
In talking about people to target, Starr said:
“Make sure they are master marketers.”
That really got me thinking about people in my networks who have a great brand, credentials and credibility, degrees and accomplishments–but aren’t engaged in their own self-marketing and promotion. They are not taking the lead on branding themselves through online communities, email marketing or at least a Facebook page.
In today’s business paradigm, combining the two worlds (in-person and online) and all of the platforms that afford us free access to people all over the world is a must. With so many solopreneurs, businesses of one, consultants, authors and trainers out there, being a master marketer is about the most important skill you can have in your toolbox as a businessperson today.
Here are 13 tools I have used to become a “master marketer.” These are proven ways to your build brand awareness and credibility and grow your relationships with your personal and professional communities.
- LinkedIn is the professional platform with unparalleled potential to introduce yourself to and interact with top people in your field or related fields.
- Facebook is the most diverse platform for engagement and interactivity.
- Twitter can be a “real time” communication tool.
- Blogging is the best way to build Klout and authority in your area of expertise.
- Email marketing can help you grow relationships with your permission-based community.
- Article writing, either on your own blog or for other key blogs and websites, builds your credibility.
- Texting used properly can also be a “real time” marketing tool.
- Video is the best way to show people your vibe, personality and how you present yourself.
- Workshops brand you as an expert in your field and also give you a platform to present yourself.
- Volunteering is the side door into many opportunities and align you with things you are passionate about.
- Networking online and in person can open up amazing opportunities with people all over the world or right in your community.
- Google+ is fast becoming another diverse tribe and community building platform.
- Blogtalkradio podcasting has opened more doors for me than just about any other platform.
All of these tools can greatly impact your brand awareness, sales, customer service, customer retention and your overall professional success and advancement. Many of these tools can be used in a very integrated way. You can start with a few key platforms and make them work for you, then add more as you get comfortable.
Hire a consultant, take a class, pay your kid to help you – but get going on making the commitment to become a master marketer for 2012!
Here are some “master marketers” Ad Age chose as great examples of this in action, who have built strong brands, consistent branding and big buzz. Who are some of the master marketers that you emulate?
Image from Ivan Montero Martinez/Shutterstock
13 Tools to Help You Become a Master Marketer
View full post on Small Business News, Tips, Advice – Small Business Trends
Small Business Tips and Tools for Success
Sep 29th
Small business success need not be a matter of luck. Techniques and tools can help along the way. Read the stories of some successful small business entrepreneurs then learn the tips and tricks that can make your venture a success.
Startup Success
What fueled the beginning of your small business dream? These brief profiles of seven successful startup companies show that anything from unemployment to job dissatisfaction and more can fuel the entrepreneurial urge. So what was it that started you down the path of wanting to start your own business? Yahoo! Finance
Overcoming hardships with small business success. Read the inspiring story of how Jenny How overcame hardship to create her own business working online and today a brand aimed at helping others do the same. Don’t let hardships overcome you while creating your small business. BizSugr Blog
Tech & Training
10 cool new tech ideas to help you market your business. Marketing technology has changed dramatically over the last few years and the pace of change appears to be on the increase. The small business owner must be willing and able to effectively use the new tools for marketing. Check out some of these new tech ideas. Inc.com
Mastering distraction in 18 minutes. Small business owners have an additional challenge that those who work for at a larger company. This is even more difficult for the person who works at home. Focusing on what are the priorities is difficult for many people. We are encouraged to examine what matters, what’s working well, what’s neutral to us, and what alienates us. Then structure our work life accordingly. Inc.com
Management Basics
Is your business operating efficiently? Here are six signs it might not be. Getting use to monitoring your small business can be a key to making it more successful. Do you know how to tell where your small business is and where it should be? Learning to evaluate your small business effectively can be a first step to success. Site Prebuilder
Small business health-care plan debuts. Providing health care for employees in a small business has been difficult because of costs. There is no group discount like that offered to large companies. This does hurt small companies in competing for talent. In South Carolina they initiated the Small Business Health Plan, wherein small businesses pool together to buy coverage at lower rates. GreenvilleOnline.com
Marketing Moves
Marketing your small business on the cheap. Marketing your business and letting other people know what you do can be vitally important. There’s no greater task than getting your message out to those customers who will appreciate your products or services. But whatever else it is, it does not need to be expensive. Open Forum
Making sure of your marketing message. Though getting your message out there is important, it’s also important to be sure that message is right. Sending the wrong signals to perspective customers or those who might create referrals won’t bring your small business the customers you need and might result in unintended consequences for your brand. Kevin Webster
Winning Edge
Linking your way to small business success. When creating a winning Website for your small business, of course lining is important. But don’t forget some of the simplest linking of all, internal linking on your own site. It’s a an important tip that could help your business site stand out. Small Business Bliss
Building great customer experience. The importance of creating great customer experience is a no brainer when it comes to small business. That experience can be a valuable commodity for your business long run when especially in terms of repeat and referral customers. But just who are you creating the experience for? Partners in Excellence
Small Business Tips and Tools for Success
View full post on Small Business News, Tips, Advice – Small Business Trends
Internet Marketing Tools
Sep 15th
Promote software that helps you make more sales and drive more traffic to your sites!
Internet Marketing Tools
5 Tech Tools to Help You Manage Your Small Business From Home
Sep 2nd
My wife and I were recently blessed with our first child, which is not only a very exciting addition to our family, but also means that frequently working from home while the rest of my team is at the office has become a necessity for me. Managing a small business from the home office (oh, wait, my the home office is now a nursery; I mean the kitchen table!) is challenging.
Thankfully, technology makes moving things forward when you are out of the office easier than ever. Here are some of the tools I use to help my team stay productive when I’m working at home.
Yammer – Yammer is like a private Twitter for your office. It’s a great way to post updates and let the team know my status – i.e., when I have to step away from the phones, if I need someone to look into something, or when I’m ready to talk about something. Yammer can work on your desktop and politely lets you know what’s going on without interrupting your work. There is a free version of this service, although my company pays $5 per user.
Skype – Skype is a great way to actively interrupt/ping someone with a question when we are not in the same office. I can see when they are online and ask a question quickly. We also use it to transfer small files directly with each other. The beauty of Skype is also the downside – like a phone call, it interrupts you. Thankfully, you can adjust your status to “away” or “busy” to keep coworkers from getting in the way when you’ve got important things going on (like changing a diaper). Best of all, basic Skype is free.
FaceTime –Apple’s video chat service is free, and it’s been really helpful for me to have face-to-face conversations with my team. It works only on the iPad, Mac and iPhone, so each party needs one of these pretty pricey devices to take advantage of it. However, I find FaceTime is just as easy as making a phone call and more reliable than other video chat programs. When I need to have an important conversation with someone and want to see their reactions and facial expressions is when I find myself using it the most.
Google Docs – I’ve been sharing basic spreadsheets with coworkers over Google Docs for quite some time, so this fits nicely into my work-from-home situation. I find Google Docs especially useful for collaborating around potential contracts or proposals that we are sending to our clients. Quick note: We still use Word for final formatting. Google Apps business plans start at $50 per year per user.
GoToMeeting – For larger internal meetings we use GoToMeeting. This allows us to have phone dial-in, Web voice meetings and screen sharing all at once. We used to use Skype for these purposes, but it became too unreliable for group calls, so we switched. GoToMeeting isn’t cheap at $49 per month, especially when competitors offer similar services for free. However, I feel it’s better to pay for a meeting service rather than having my employees wait around for a virtual meeting that is delayed because of technical issues. That’s a loss of money! I see GoToMeeting as a must-have as I try to keep the company moving forward from my house.
Phone and email – Two bonus tools that we all use! While working at home, I’ve made a serious effort to be available by phone and email at specific times during the day (of course, my newborn didn’t exactly get this memo). I bundle both email and phone times, since it’s easy to pause what you’re doing with email to answer a call. I also delegate email – forwarding an item to a team member and asking them to take care of it while cc’ing the original sender.
Have you managed and grown your business from home? What tools and tactics did you use? I’d love to hear what worked for you. Do you have any ideas that would help me become more efficient as a businessperson while I do my duty as a new dad?
5 Tech Tools to Help You Manage Your Small Business From Home
View full post on Small Business News, Tips, Advice – Small Business Trends
Power Tools For Entrepreneurs.
Aug 27th
Practical Instruction In The Arts & Sciences Of Making Money.
Power Tools For Entrepreneurs.
Power Tools for Serious eBay® Sellers
Aug 10th
Advanced Power Selling: New tools and strategies for making big money with your business on eBay®.
Power Tools for Serious eBay® Sellers
Tools & Tips For Entrepreneurs
Aug 9th
Tips and tools for entrepreneurs are always changing, so the best small business leaders stay curious about the latest techniques out there while always keeping their eyes on what works best. Knowing entrepreneurs like you are always on the lookout for the next big thing, however, we put together this roundup and hope it will help.
Change & Innovation
Staying the course can be important in business. But sometimes it can also be a good idea to take things back to the drawing board. Where are you in your small business today? What could you do to reinvent your business, maybe not just today but everyday? James Brown Marketing
Is your small business innovative? Why or why not? The question is, what are your expectations? There may indeed be businesses out there that don’t need to innovate, that can keep doing the same thing year after year without change and succeed in sustaining and even growing a market…Then there are the rest of us! Keep Up With The Web
Location, Location, Location
Why brick and mortar may be a mistake. Sometimes even the most successful brands around can do without brick and mortar retail. Does your company really need a physical location? Remember that a retail location also represents additional overhead and expense. Does your business really need a physical location to sell your product or service? You’re the Boss
Secrets of the blogging small business. We’ve shared resources here before about using blogging not simply to market your small business but as your small business too. Blogging offers many opportunities to the online entrepreneur from marketing to SEO to creating a brand customers can relate to. GrowMap
Coupons & Credit Cards
Using digital coupons effectively. Of course, coupon promotion has forever been an effective marketing strategy for small businesses, and today, with the advances of digital technology, that strategy can be taken to a whole new level. Groupon is undoubtedly the best known brand name in this new market. What can it teach us? Zimana Blog
How’s your Google credit? The value of AdWords campaigns to small businesses is well knownwhen it comes to online marketing. Now the search engine giant has issued a special credit card exclusively for the popular advertising program. How do they work and how do you get yours? Bloomberg BusinessWeek
Skills & Ethics
A variety of skills are needed by every small business owner. How do you know if you possess the skills you need the most? One such skill is accounting, and an important one it is. Though it may not be necessary to be a CPA to manage your business finances, do you have the basics necessary? You’re the Boss
What are social media ethics? Using the social media and social networks to market and make important connections for your business is a key component to success in a world dominated by the Web. But how much do you know about the ethics of social network marketing? Tech Mug
Research & Development
The latest in cutting edge startups. Scientific research translated into technology holds the promise not only for greater efficiency in existing businesses but also for creation of new business startups based on that research. While small businesses may not have access to huge research and development budgets, that doesn’t necessarily preclude their participation. Bloomberg BusinessWeek
Your Suggestions?
An unlikely source is asking for your input. Women entrepreneurs, upload your “words of wisdom” for inclusion in career advice to be shared with women everywhere. Sharing tips is part of what entrepreneurs do or should be. Why not share your ideas today? Jones New York
Tools & Tips For Entrepreneurs
View full post on Small Business News, Tips, Advice – Small Business Trends
5 Collaboration Tools Demonstrate How the Future Web Will Act
Aug 4th
5 Collaboration Tools Demonstrate How the Future Web Will Act
This content from: Duct Tape Marketing
The ability to collaborate with individuals and groups around the world is one of the greatest gifts offered by the new breed of online tool. These tools, and perhaps the web in general, are evolving to become more interactive and feature rich.
With the eventual adoption of HTML5 and its heavy support for AJAX, web pages are quickly becoming web applications in a foreshadowing of the next standard for web sites. Take note of these new tools as they will usher in the expectation that all sites begin to function instead of merely house information.
Below are 5 new breed collaboration tools making heavy use of HMTL5.
Groupzap – This one wins the coolness award in my book, but offers a really powerful set of tools for instant collaboration and brainstorming meetings and white boards on the fly. Marry it with Skype and you have a no cost tool that is hard to beat. You can drag files into the space, document with notes and save the entire session as a PDF. Nobody has to register you just send out a link via IM or email.
Microsoft Office Web Apps – (okay, this one probably doesn’t use HTML5 as IE doesn’t add support for it until IE9, but it still fits the new breed label) – Using the Office Web Apps and SkyDrive you can open a document with a group of people and co-author and edit in real time with the entire group participating, making changes and viewing the changes live.
Google + Hangouts – One of the most talked about features of the much talked about Google + is Hangouts – a video chat function that allows you to invite or simply host an on the fly group video meeting. (There is now a Facebook plug in that mirrors this and you can add a Group Meeting plug in to your own WordPress blog)
TalkWheel – TalkWheel is an instant messaging platform that works more like a roundtable discussion than the linier stack of the typical IM. It actually create a visual representation of the conversations and filters and relates topics. Looks like a very cool way to keep track of conversations from around the web and I can see lots of focus group and brainstorming uses with its visual presentation.
Vokle – I’m probably stretching how some might view collaboration with this one, but I just love what you can do with Vokle. Vokle is actually a live streaming video platform, but it makes it very easy to have two people present or invite virtual guests to create a talk show kind of feel. You can also share a computer screen as the guest to flip back and forth from live presenter to slides or images. The entire stream can be recorded for future playback as well.
View full post on Small Business Marketing Blog from Duct Tape Marketing
