Top 3 Apps for Entrepreneurs
According to Forrester research, a billion people will own smartphones by 2016. An increasingly smartphone friendly world is perfect for entrepreneurs craving time away from the office. No longer tethered to desks or even wi-fi, our mobile world opens new doors for productivity on the run. So which apps are virtual wonders and which are...
Celebrity Gifting Suites: Survival Tips
Whether you agree with the phenomena or not, celebrity sells. I have personally seen the momentum it can create with my own company, Glamajama. A celebrity fan or customer gives your brand credibility in the marketplace and makes your company newsworthy. Celebrity Gifting Suites are one of the many ways you can gain access to...
Inspiration to StartUp: Should YOU Follow Your Passions?
This question has been in my heart and thoughts lately as my pet project, FitandFearLESS.tv, finally launches. As always, there are naysayers. Naysayers that question what a childrenswear designer could possibly know about the crazy world of online entertainment. As I take my first steps in this new venture, I'm often asked "I know this...
Big Business Helping Small Business: A New Era of David and Goliath?
We have all heard the horror stories of big business pitted against small business. The classic David and Goliath tale played out from Wall Street to Main Street with all kinds of financial causalities in their wake. While the tales may differ, the moral is the same. The big fish will always try to eat...
The Art of Getting Buzz in Entrepreneur Magazine
For many small business owners getting a write-up in Entrepreneur magazine is the holy grail of media coverage. A few lines in the magazine can make all those sleepless nights, hard work, and determination seem rewarded. No trophies or plaques required. So what does it take to secure this much coveted ink? Aronado Placencia, host...
Can a Consultant Save You Cash…and Heartache?
As a bootstrap entrepreneur, I’ve learned there are just some things you don’t cut corners on. My “golden rule” has always been to hire the best Lawyer, Accountant, and Business Consultant you can find, even if you can’t afford it. The truth is you simply can’t afford NOT to. Running my small business over the...
Why Dell Beats the Hell Out of Threadless
I apologize for the outlandish headline, but I don't really think it's any more outlandish than crowning Threadless as the sales guru of Twitter. I'm sure you've read some recent press in the media bragging about Threadless being the company to emulate when it comes to monetizing on Twitter. (Read one article from Inc here)...
The Death of Twitter. (and the Birth of Twitter for Business)
I wouldn’t encourage the naysayers to start chanting “the wicked witch is dead” just yet, but there has been a definite decline in Twitter users. According to the latest research from eMarketer, Twitter posted a decline in users from 23 million to 20 million. How is this possible you ask? Easy. The honeymoon is over...
Celebrity Product Placement: The Do’s and Don’ts
As the “royalty” status of Hollywood stars has risen, so has their effectiveness as key influencers in consumer purchasing behaviors. Celebrity product placement is considered an “influencer-marketing” approach for helping brands increase their competiveness in an increasingly crowded marketplace. Marketers and small business owners can harness that power through strategic product placement opportunities that have...
Why the Time is NOW to Hire a Virtual Assistant
With over 70% of the economic experts expecting a last quarter uptick in the economy, now is the perfect time to start preparing for the extra business. I am a big fan of using virtual assistants to help build out my team during peak seasons. This is an especially useful business strategy in today's market...
Facebook Vanity Username…Get Yours June 13th 12:01am!
Just wanted to send a quick reminder to everyone regarding the use of vanity usernames on Facebook. As of June 13th at 12:01am EDT you will be able to create a vanity username for your Facebook profile or fan page. Image via CrunchBase This is TERRIFIC NEWS and will undoubtedly help with SEO ranking, name...
How to Find and Pitch Media Contacts on Twitter
When you're on a bootstrap marketing budget, you can never have too many friends in media. If you don't have those connections now, there's still hope. You just might be able to win a few new media friends with the social media darling, Twitter. Twitter has been a favorite of the media and public relations...
Help for Small Biz: SBA Backs Interest Free Loans to Ease Cash Crunch
As part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, the Small Business Administration (SBA) has now added a 100% interest free SBA backed loan with no fees attached. With so many businesses (big and small) crumbling in the current economic climate, the new loan program is an attempt by the SBA to reach...
Everything I Needed to Know About Business I Learned From Boxing
The love affair started about ten years ago. I was flipping through the channels on late night television and stumbled across one of Felix Trinidad’s early fights. He was an amazing athlete full of unwavering determination, brute physicality, and an innate ability for overcoming obstacles. It was no secret that he would often get knocked...
How to Conquer Your Business Startup Fears with Mind Mapping
Let’s face it. The first step is always the hardest. Whether you’re trying to quit smoking, start graduate school, or learn how to play guitar. It’s that first step that leaves us feeling awkward, inadequate, and questioning our conviction. Taking that first step toward entrepreneurship is no different. We question our business skills, product performance,...
How To Always Be On “GARD” For PR Success
If you are on a bootstrap marketing budget and looking for do-it-yourself publicity, you need to be on "GARD" for media opportunities that can catapult your brand to the next level. In this video, I explain the "do it yourself" system that has helped me garner media features from such outlets as USA Today, E!...
No Time For Social Media? Hire a Mom.
The rise of social media is undoubtedly one of the biggest changes to happen to marketing since the birth of the internet. According to a Universal McCann 2008 study, 272 million people are using social media. Of those 272 million, 77% are reading blogs and approximately 34% of them are posting opinions about companies and...
Brand Monitoring: Why it’s Vital for Keeping Your Brand Strong
Brand monitoring is essentially the process of researching mentions of your brand including its name, officers, products, and more. This is a vital part of branding for many reasons. It can help you find brand evangelists, join conversations with prospects, correct misinformation, find opportunities for free publicity, police your trademark, or even find ideas for...
Is Your Brand Ready For Fame?
In the late 60's Andy Warhol proclaimed his belief that everyone was destined for at least 15 minutes of fame. While the definition of "fame" may be up for interpretation, the prediction does hold some truth. It also begs a question for companies. Will your brand be ready? If yes, your 15 minutes could easily...
Interview with Newt Barrett, Author of “Get Content. Get Customers.” Part 2
Thanks so much for joining us for Part 2 of our interview with Newt Barrett of "Get Content. Get Customers." If you missed Part 1, please click here to Read Part 1. Heather: You mention several content types in your book such as print publications, magazines, newsletters, white papers, websites, blogs, webcasts, and eNewsletters. I...